Media release - September 3, 2002
Sempra Energy headquarters received a visit today by Greenpeace and concerned citizens demanding the company invest in clean, renewable energies and halt its plans to expand dirty energy projects in California and Mexico. The group dropped off hundreds of petitions from Californians demanding that Sempra stop developing power plants that pollute local communities, dirty the air and increase our addiction to fossil fuels.
The activists delivered their message with the Rolling Sunlight,
a solar exhibition truck which demonstrates the potential of solar
energy, while activists passed out information about the benefits
of renewable energy.
"This is the last stop of a one-week tour traveling the
California-Mexico border area highlighting clean energy as a
solution to climate change, dirty air and the pollution of
communities in the boarder region," said JP Ross Greenpeace Clean
Energy NOW! Policy Analyst. Ross added, "We will continue pushing
Sempra to invest in Clean Energy until we see results."
Greenpeace met with Sempra today to communicate their demands
formally and requested that Stephen Baum, CEO of Sempra, respond to
the communities' and outline the company's plans to transition into
renewable energy production. Greenpeace also communicated that an
important first step in adopting clean energy is to stop the
company's attempt to development an energy transmission line,
called The Valley Rainbow Interconnect, that will increase the
capacity to export dirty power from Mexico to California.
After the meeting, a rally in the front courtyard provided
Sempra employees with information on the dangers of dirty power
plants and the availability and benefits of clean energy solutions.
"Sempra Energy wants to build a gas distribution system from
northern Baja to California for up to twenty-two 500 megawatt power
plants to serve California's energy needs," said Shannon Wright
Greenpeace Clean Energy Now! Coordinator. Wright added, "Greenpeace
analysis shows that California and Baja's energy needs can be met
through cost-effective efficiency measures and investments in solar
and wind power."
This event coincided with the Earth
Summit, an international meeting in South Africa of world leaders
to discuss solutions to the global environmental problems.
Greenpeace has collected over 1.6 million petition signatures
demanding clean energy for the 2 billion people in the world
without electricity.