Latest News
January 2011
December 2011
November 2011
October 2011
September 2011
July 2011
April 2011
March 2011
February 2011
January 2011
September 2010
SunZia’s relationship to the High Plains Express Project: A potential SunZia route well north of us along established corridors
SunZia Project’s past: Originally proposed to serve the Southwestern Power Group’s Bowie power plant
SunZia’s purpose: The majority of power carried by SunZia will be non-renewable
Wind power potential: Wind power production in New Mexico is nearly perfectly out of sync with southwestern demand
Read CWG member Mick Meader's reports on how the SunZia project came to be what it is today, as well as compelling data on New Mexico wind's poor fit for the SW's power demand.
Click here for Mick's homepage or click our Reports - History, Bowie, Wind? link to the left.
Reports include:
July/August 2010
June 2010
May 2010
Provide Feedback to the BLM
Public Comments Being Accepted through June 10th, 2010
The rescoping process has created a window for the acceptance of new written comments: now until June 10. This is probably the most direct way the general public can have its voice heard. Here is the official comment form which can be submitted to:
SunZia Southwest Transmission Project
c/o EPG, Inc.
4141 N. 32nd Street, Suite 102
Phoenix, AZ 85018
OR
Email Adrian Garcia, BLM Project Manager: NMSunZiaProject@blm.gov
For examples and ideas to consider, please see our comments page and our talking points pages. Here is a partial example representing the point of view of the Friends of the Aravaipa Region (FAR):
April 2010
BLM Re-Scoping - Public Meeting in Tucson
April 29, 2010
"Let Arizona provide their own energy." ...this is a comment made by a New Mexico resident at the equivalent New Mexico rescoping meeting. We couldnt agree more! (Here is a news article reviewing the New Mexico rescoping meeting.)
The Tucson meeting was mentioned in the Star.
Good news! The BLM has officially reopened the scoping process for the Sunzia project. The study area has been expanded around Tucson (as well as in New Mexico). We would like to believe that this has happened thanks to the efforts of CWG and our many allies, who have been valiantly working to help the SunZia project (and the governmental entities that oversee it) understand that the San Pedro River Valley is not a viable location for a new power corridor.
February 2010
We have received an opinion piece from U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords. We are happy that she has taken a position that supports ours. You may download a PDF version of Rep. Giffords statement. You may also download a copy of Raul Grijalva's letter to Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar. We want to thank Congressman Raul Grijalva and Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords for taking the time to listen to our perspective and for making their positions publicly available.
January 2010
January 13th, 2010 -- Public Meeting in Cascabel Members of the SunZia project met with the residents of Cascabel on January 13, 2010 at the Cascabel Community Center. Community members received information about the project and were able to ask questions and state their concerns about the project.
We had an excellent turnout for the meeting and would like to thank everyone for attending. We also would like to thank the SunZia folks who attended as well as the Bureau of Land Management and EPG, the third-party contractor on the Environmental Impact Study. Several environmental organizations and local organizations were also represented at the meeting and were given an opportunity to make statements. To see some of the what happened at the meeting (and for downloads), visit our presentations page and scroll down to the lower half of the page.
Peter Else, a resident of Dudleyville, Arizona attended the Cascabel meeting and has given us permission to post his insightful comments.
January 2011
- The BLM website continues to say that its release of the SunZia project's Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) is tentatively set for mid-January (now). Keep checking the BLM website for any news.
December 2011
- SunZia Opponents Stretch On and On
- SunZia's alleged new
jobs figures require heavy scrutiny
The first thing to ask yourself when evaluating the veracity of any study is "Who Funded It?". Answer in this case: SunZia themselves. See CWG's research writer, Mick Meader's report containing a more realisitc, reasonable set of potential jobs numbers---not at all like those SunZia would like you to see. ...there is a definite difference between actual "jobs" and "job-years".
November 2011
- See SunZia's updated proposed routes, offering 3 unacceptable choices: an east San Pedro route, a west San Pedro route, or an Aravaipa route.
- California Says No Energy Imports Needed
Another reason why SunZia makes no economic sense. Read the article here, or read a letter from the Senior Advisor to the Governor for Renewable Energy Facilities
October 2011
- SunZia - Could it Make it on its Own Merits Without Government Favors and Clever PR?
--Selling itself as "green" (see Information Quality Act Petition in the September and July news sections),
--using the Arizona Legislature to attempt to change oversight (see SB1517 in the April news section),
--and now federal "fast tracking" and the abuse of the "jobs" flag
Please read this excellent Op-Ed piece from Albert Vetere Lannon of the Avra Valley area (or click here to see it on the Tucson Weekly opinion page.)
- Obama Plan to Fast-Track Powerlines, including SunZia, in the Name of Creating Jobs
See the October 5th Associated Press article or a more critical article arguing this has been done before and failed. Renewable Energy World mentions that SunZia, despite claims, does little for geothermal interests - The BLM's release of the SunZia project's Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) further delayed.
"The DEIS is tentatively scheduled to be released in mid-January 2012." -- BLM website
September 2011
- San Pedro Valley Cooperative Conservation Initiative
On September 22, 2011 the Redington and Winkelman NRCD's hosted a meeting with the Fish and Wildlife Service at the Central Arizona College at Aravaipa to introduce the idea of a San Pedro Valley Cooperative Conservation Initiative that could potentially include a National Wildlife Refuge.
Click here to see CWG member Mick Meader's thorough notes on the meeting - Information Quality Act Appeal
The Winkelman and Redington NRCD's have filed an appeal on their Information Quality Act Petition (see July News section for more detail). The response to the original petition was that the New Mexico BLM would simply make unspecified revisions to the five challenged statements of purpose in the draft EIS. The Appeal explains how this action would defeat the purpose of the scoping period by denying the public and stakeholders the right to comment on an accurate description of the project prior to the final development of the draft EIS. The Appeal also continues to insist that four specific disclosures are made regarding the relationship between the proposed project and non-renewable sources of energy, as well as the regulatory and economic factors that would affect the nature of generation sources ultimately gaining access to the proposed lines. The Washington D.C. based Information Resources officer has until November 5th to respond to this Appeal.
Here is a copy of the Appeal. - The BLM's release of the SunZia project's Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS)
"is tentatively scheduled to be released in mid-October 2011. " -- BLM website
July 2011
- Information Quality Act Petition -
(SunZia's claim to be "primarily renewable" has misled the public)
The Redington and Winkelman Natural Resource Conservation Districts have submitted a petition to the BLM entitledREQUEST FOR CORRECTION OF INFORMATION CONTAINED IN SCOPING DOCUMENTS FOR THE SUN ZIA SOUTHWEST TRANSMISSION PROJECT
The gist of the petition is that the description of purpose made by SunZia has misled the public and those who attended BLM scoping meetings of the true nature of the project. Their stated purpose is"...is to transport electricity generated from power generation resources, including primarily renewable resources, to western markets and load centers".
The 'primarily renewable' description which has so heavily influenced supporters of the SunZia project is argued to be purely speculative.
Click here to view the petition.
April 2011
- SB1517 was overwhelmingly defeated 40-14-6!
Next step for SB1517 is the Arizona Rules Committee, chaired by Representative Weiers.SB1517 has moved out of the Rules Committee [for which they called a special meeting with SB1517 being the only item on the agenda] and into the Committee of the Whole. If it continues, it would soon thereafter move onto the House floor. - We understand that the Tohono O'odham have refused to allow SunZia across the Garcia strip (and hence down the Avra Valley). Current proposals before the BLM would leave them only with the Aravaipa region or the San Pedro River Valley.
- an Arizona Star article on SB1517 implies that Frank Pratt, Chair of the House Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, has been "talking" with the Cascabel Working Group (and others) about possible changes to the bill. This is not correct. CWG has had no official communication with Rep Pratt on the bill; our position is that we want it scrapped.
March 2011
SunZia must not legislate awayour right to be heard! |
|
February 2011
- First the good news:
The SunZia project's potential environmental disaster could be averted
by opting for the Southline Transmission Project instead !
See CWG Board Member Mick Meader's report. Here's a sample:The overlap and redundancy between the Southline and SunZia Projects is apparent, and constructing them simultaneously to serve the same area does not appear to make economic sense. Environmentally, the Southline Project is far more benign in Arizona and does not traverse any key environmentally sensitive areas.
- The bad news: CWG is investigating a questionable bill before the Arizona Senate (SB 1547) which may ease the regulations which govern SunZia's permitting process.
From the Bill:
Purpose: Exempts a person who is contemplating construction of certain interstate transmission lines from Power Plant and Line Siting Committee requirements.
- CWG's enjoyable Annual Meeting/fundraiser happened on the 19th where a new board was elected.
January 2011
- CWG is interested in initiating a collaborative process to review the SunZia project through the U.S. Institute for Environmental Conflict Resolution.
- The SunZia project's new competition: the Southline Transmission
Project. The Southline service area is similar to SunZia's and it is also intended to carry "green" energy...
and the best news is that they seem to be environmentally conscious. From their homepage:
The Southline is sited in a way that enables access some of the best renewable resources in Arizona and New Mexico without crossing the most sensitive lands, including (among others) National Forests, sensitive riparian zones and wilderness study areas. In fact, most of the route recycles rights-of-way, eliminating the need for new roads and minimizing the impact to pristine wilderness. Specifically, our preferred route runs adjacent to abandoned railroad beds and inside of existing transmission corridors.
September 2010
- CWG, in cooperation with Friends of the Aravaipa Region, releases draft EIS contributions for the Aravaipa Watershed and Lower San Pedro River.
- New Upload: Map Showing the Variety and Scope of Existing Conservation Efforts in the San Pedro River Valley
SunZia Project’s past: Originally proposed to serve the Southwestern Power Group’s Bowie power plant
SunZia’s purpose: The majority of power carried by SunZia will be non-renewable
Wind power potential: Wind power production in New Mexico is nearly perfectly out of sync with southwestern demand
Read CWG member Mick Meader's reports on how the SunZia project came to be what it is today, as well as compelling data on New Mexico wind's poor fit for the SW's power demand.
Click here for Mick's homepage or click our Reports - History, Bowie, Wind? link to the left.
Reports include:
- The Relationship of the High Plains Express Project to the SunZia Project
- The Early History of the SunZia Southwest Transmission Project
- The Relationship of the Bowie, Arizona, Power Plant to the Evolution and Scope of the SunZia Southwest Transmission Project
- Transmission Needs for the Bowie, Arizona, Power Plant,
- Comparison of Peak Wind-Energy Production in Central New Mexico with Peak Electrical Consumption in Arizona and New Mexico
July/August 2010
- CWG's Environmental Impact Research Released!
June 2010
- CWG member, Mick Meader shares his extensive research on a possible SunZia Tucson route, completely avoiding the San Pedro, Aravaipa
- Re-Scoping period has ended, but BLM says it will still accept comments
Please go to our links page for the BLM's SunZia webpage and comment form. - FERC rejects SunZia's 'Petition for Declaratory Order'
The Petition is related to the financial structure of the SunZia project and how the line capacity will be apportioned. The story can be read here, or you can read the Petition itself (and related documents) on the FERC website by looking up docket EL10-39.(For more info about the FERC, see our background page.)
It is interesting to look at the docket on the FERC's site. Some of the big players [individual SunZia partners as well as another transmission line construction company which could be affected by the precedent set by the FERC's SunZia decision] in the game submitted "intervener requests", which set them up to be more deeply involved in the FERC's decision making process. We need to watch carefully and learn; we may need to set up an intervener process of our own at some point in our efforts, such as with the Arizona Corporate Commission. - Military Opposes any 500KV line route through the Ft. Huachuca 'Electronic Testing Range' (i.e., the I-10 Corridor, Benson, the San Pedro Valley)
Representatives from Ft. Huachuca told CWG that mitigation would be required for any 500Kv line that would pass through their designated electronic testing range. Here is a map of the range, and it covers most of the possible routes SunZia is considering.
May 2010
Public Comments Being Accepted through June 10th, 2010
The rescoping process has created a window for the acceptance of new written comments: now until June 10. This is probably the most direct way the general public can have its voice heard. Here is the official comment form which can be submitted to:
c/o EPG, Inc.
4141 N. 32nd Street, Suite 102
Phoenix, AZ 85018
OR
Email Adrian Garcia, BLM Project Manager: NMSunZiaProject@blm.gov
For examples and ideas to consider, please see our comments page and our talking points pages. Here is a partial example representing the point of view of the Friends of the Aravaipa Region (FAR):
I understand that the Bureau of Land Management is currently assessing the environmental impacts of the various alternative routes proposed by the SunZia Southwest Transmission Project. I am pleased to see that the SunZia Project is now considering routes that follow the major infrastructure corridor along Interstate 10. Routes within the developed or highly disturbed areas near this corridor are the only appropriate routes for new high voltage lines in the project's Arizona study area. Building a new major infrastructure corridor in the environmentally sensitive areas of the Aravaipa and San Pedro regions would cause permanent damage to our dwindling wilderness areas in southern Arizona. I encourage the BLM to perform their environmental assessments in an objective manner, without the influence of corporate interest in minimizing construction costs. Land lease costs on our public lands are ridiculously low, and could never compensate for the permanent loss of wildlife habitat and wildlife migration corridors. If this project does not have the resources to build its power lines along existing developed corridors, then this project should not proceed. If this turns out to be the case, it would be in Arizona's best long-term interest to develop its own renewable energy resources, while developing the existing distribution network in a responsible manner.
April 2010
April 29, 2010
"Let Arizona provide their own energy." ...this is a comment made by a New Mexico resident at the equivalent New Mexico rescoping meeting. We couldnt agree more! (Here is a news article reviewing the New Mexico rescoping meeting.)
The Tucson meeting was mentioned in the Star.
Good news! The BLM has officially reopened the scoping process for the Sunzia project. The study area has been expanded around Tucson (as well as in New Mexico). We would like to believe that this has happened thanks to the efforts of CWG and our many allies, who have been valiantly working to help the SunZia project (and the governmental entities that oversee it) understand that the San Pedro River Valley is not a viable location for a new power corridor.
Comments will be taken at a public meeting on April 29th, 2010 at the Holiday Inn, 4550 South Palo Verde Road..
For more information, see the BLM's SunZia page and the article BLM Seeks Additional Public Input on Proposed SunZia Southwest Transmission Project on the BLM's website.
February 2010
We have received an opinion piece from U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords. We are happy that she has taken a position that supports ours. You may download a PDF version of Rep. Giffords statement. You may also download a copy of Raul Grijalva's letter to Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salazar. We want to thank Congressman Raul Grijalva and Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords for taking the time to listen to our perspective and for making their positions publicly available.
January 2010
January 13th, 2010 -- Public Meeting in Cascabel Members of the SunZia project met with the residents of Cascabel on January 13, 2010 at the Cascabel Community Center. Community members received information about the project and were able to ask questions and state their concerns about the project.
We had an excellent turnout for the meeting and would like to thank everyone for attending. We also would like to thank the SunZia folks who attended as well as the Bureau of Land Management and EPG, the third-party contractor on the Environmental Impact Study. Several environmental organizations and local organizations were also represented at the meeting and were given an opportunity to make statements. To see some of the what happened at the meeting (and for downloads), visit our presentations page and scroll down to the lower half of the page.
Peter Else, a resident of Dudleyville, Arizona attended the Cascabel meeting and has given us permission to post his insightful comments.