About Us

Overview

Our Mission – Promote a safe, reliable and economical energy future

The Goal - Contribute to the public dialogue encouraging local power generation, development and distribution of renewable and clean energy; minimize any impact on parks, private and public preserves and other natural lands, waterways, private property and communities.

We Support - Protect Communities Fund (POC) supports education, advocacy and community outreach endeavors related to a positive energy future, including the reduction of fossil fuel consumption.

Background – Established in 2006, POC has touched the sensibilities of the citizens of San Diego County and beyond. Our original premise was to fight a 150 mile long, devastating electric line that would cut through Anza Borrego Desert State Park. However, it soon be came clear that we also needed to be proactive in helping develop an energy solution for our future. This energy future must be economical, reliable, environmentally non-invasive and wean us off foreign fossil fuels. POC and its partners have raised over $1 million in our attempt to ensure that the concerns of local communities are heard and that politicians adhere to the 2020 energy plan that was adopted by all parties (including SDG&E) in 2003.

Collaborative Partners – POC is proud to be working with these local and regional organizations: Anza Borrego Foundation & Institute, Backcountry Against Dumps, Border Power Plant Working Group, California Parks Foundation, California Wilderness Coalition, Carmel Valley Concerned Citizens, CASE (Community Alliance for Sustainable Energy), Center for Biological Diversity, Coalition of Southern Planning Groups, CUSP (Communities United for Sensible Power), Desert Protective Council, Sierra Club, UCAN (Utility Consumers’ Action Network)

Social Justice - POC believes that everyone has the right to live in a society that promotes a clean, healthy environment. In California this is eminently important, as this state has almost 3 times the population density as the rest of the United States*.  To that end POC advocates a sustainable energy future for all citizens that does not continue to rely on polluting fossil fuels.

Demographics Served – California residents represents an incredibly diverse spectrum of ethnicities. POC is the voice for every citizen, including and particularly the indigent and minorities who are often unrepresented. In California significant demographics include: African-Americans 6.7%, American Natives 1.2%, Asian 12.4%, Hispanic 35.9%, Persons with Disabilities 5%*.

Fund Control - POC’s administrator is the San Diego Foundation. They are an excellent partner in our ongoing efforts to preserve and enhance San Diego’s environment and quality of life.

* U.S. Census Bureau, State & County QuickFacts

Implementation – 2008 objectives

 ■    Education –  Education is the key to empowering communities to understand the vision of San Diego Smart Energy 2020, the 21st Century Alternative. This detailed plan integrates large amounts of solar photovoltaics and high efficiency natural gas-fired combined heat and power systems in the San Diego area to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and assure the reliability of the regional electric grid. The report was prepared by E-Tech International and authored by Bill Powers, P.E. with a grant from the San Diego Foundation. We have been disseminating this report to legislators and opinion leaders, as well as meeting with many of them face-to-face, contextualizing and explaining the report, as well as answering their questions. This program needs to be expanded by getting this report in the hands of every lawmaker, media and citizen group throughout California.

 ■    Advocacy - Helping citizens, government and business minimize their impact on the environment while insuring a healthy economy and our quality of life.  Twentieth century technologies currently being proposed are no answer to twenty-first century problems of global warming, energy production, distribution and conservation. We currently support a legal and technical team of experts that is working with the CPUC toward a better solution to our electricity needs.

 ■    Community Outreach – Through marketing, public relations, Ranchita Rocks annual fundraiser, energy seminars, presentations and personal meetings, we are keeping the communities throughout San Diego County informed of local energy issues. In 2008, we need to expand our outreach to the legislative and executive branches of government in Sacramento. While POC was started in San Diego, this issue is central to our national energy crisis. In 2009 we want to be a force of reason on a national level.

To date POC and its partners have spent over $1 million dollars serving our mission. Our goal for the next phase of our campaign is to raise an additional $500,000. To do this we need your help.