The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power ended years of silence on some of the details surrounding a proposed path of power lines Saturday at a public meeting with High Desert residents that quickly turned hostile.
[snip]
In recent years, the agency has earned a reputation for not disclosing information to the media or public, a reputation [general manager David] Nahai is attempting to redeem.
Still, Mike Cipra, a program manager with the National Parks Conservation Area, scolded the LADWP for not responding to a letter he sent the agency with concerns about the proposed path's impact on Joshua Tree National Park. "Since I never heard back, I have to assume you didn't read it," he said.
Carrie Hyke, a San Bernardino County planner, read a strongly worded statement reminding the LADWP that the Board of Supervisors is opposed to a project that cuts through environmentally sensitive habitat.
In addition to Los Angeles, Burbank, Glendale, Azusa and Banning plan to use energy from the project, said Bill Carnahan, executive director of the Southern California Public Power Authority. - The Sun
The Press-Enterprise also has informative coverage of the boisterous meeting, as does the local Hi-Desert Star, which includes a number of quotes:
“Electricity seeks the path of least resistance,” said crowd-pleasing speaker Scott McKone. “These routes are the path of most resistance — the people’s resistance!”
And, as noted previously, LADWP General Manager David Nahai was visibly ruffled by the crowd's displeasure:
As more speakers described the LADWP and by extension Nahai as untrustworthy and disingenuous, Nahai appeared to be losing his earlier cool. “I didn’t have to come here today,” he said, prompting a chorus of sarcastic groans. “I came for constructive comments.”
Finally, the editorial in Saturday's Star sums up the battle ahead:
As this infant project begins to grow, we ask the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and the Morongo Basin to remember that no world, no matter how small, should fall silently before another. No sacrifice should ever be taken for granted.
MORE INFO ON THIS TOPIC: At California Desert Coalition and on the Energy page of the MBCA Website. Previous posts on this blog: Energy, Green Path North.
