Santa Lucian • Jan./Feb. 2019 1

Jan./Feb. 2019Volume 56 No.1

T h e o f f i c i a l n e w s l e t t e r o f th e S a n ta L u c i a C h a p t e r o f t h e S i e r ra C l u b ~ Sa n L u i s O b i s p o Co u n t y, C a l i f o r n i a

SANTA LUCIAN

Santa LuciaChapter

InsideInsideInsideInsideInside Sierra Club sues SLO County 2

Exxon, Be Gone! 4

Saving Community Choice 8

Classifieds 10

Outings 12

Right after last November’sBlue Wave election, youthactivists affiliated with theSunrise Movement andsupported by Representative-elect Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez urged members ofCongress nationwide to backa Green New Deal, and theSierra Club reaffirmed its callfor this platform. The Sierra Club has beenworking with allies to developa framework for a Green NewDeal for the past year. “As we witness record-breaking superstorms anddevastating wildfires, it’smore clear than ever that boldaction to fight climate changeis urgently needed,” saidSierra Club Executive Direc-tor Michael Brune. “Acting isalso an opportunity to tacklesocial inequality, create goodjobs, and move toward abetter world for everyone. That is why the Sierra Clubcontinues to strongly supporta Green New Deal platformthat includes significant action

to protect every communityfrom the climate crisis. “A Green New Deal cancreate millions of family-sustaining union jobs upgrad-ing our infrastructure, makingour communities more resili-ent to the climate crisis, retro-

fitting and weatherizing ourbuildings, restoring ourecosystems, and moving ourcountry to a 100% clean,renewable energy economy.And it would benefit thosewho have borne the brunt ofboth inequality and climate

What’s a Green New Deal?

NEW DEAL continued on page 6

A Green New Deal is a big, bold transformation of theeconomy to tackle the twin crises of inequality and climatechange. It would mobilize vast public resources to help ustransition from an economy built on exploitation and fossilfuels to one driven by dignified work and clean energy. The status quo economy leaves millions behind. While pad-ding the pockets of corporate polluters and billionaires, itexposes working class families, communities of color, andothers to stagnant wages, toxic pollution, and dead-end jobs. The climate crisis only magnifies these systemic injustices,as hard-hit communities are hit even harder by storms,droughts, and flooding. Entrenched inequality, meanwhile,exacerbates the climate crisis by depriving frontline communi-ties of the resources needed to adapt and cope. Climate change and inequality are inextricably linked. Wecannot tackle one without addressing the other. A Green NewDeal would take on both.

change while doing it at ascale and pace that protectsthis generation and genera-tions to come from the worstof the climate crisis. “The Sierra Club applaudsthe youth activists and newmembers of Congress who arestanding up for a Green NewDeal. Those speaking outhave made clear that contin-ued inaction is unacceptable,and we urge every decisionmaker in Congress to listen.Investing time and energy todevelop bold Green New Deallegislation is vitally needed inorder to have solutions readyto be enacted when those whoare on the wrong side ofhistory are voted out of office.Now it’s time to move for-ward together toward thesesolutions.”

Sierra Club Redoubles Support for anEquitable Clean Energy Economy

Then and now Left to right: Sierra Club Executive Director Michael Brune and Senator Elizabeth Warren atthe 2014 and 2015 national Good Jobs/Green Jobs conferences; Green New Deal congressional champion,Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.

See page 6 forlegislative actionssupported by theSierra Club in aGreen New Dealplatform

2 Santa Lucian • Jan./Feb. 2019

The Executive Committee meetsthe third Wednesday of each monthat 4:15 p.m. in the chapter office,located at 974 Santa Rosa St., SanLuis Obispo. All members arewelcome to attend.

Santa Lucian

Lindi Doud

Denny MynattPRINT MEDIA COORDINATOR

The Santa Lucian is published six times a year. Articles, environmental informationand letters to the editor are welcome. The deadline for each issue is the 13th of theprior month.

send to: Editor, Santa Lucian, Sierra Club, P.O. Box 15755, San Luis Obispo, CA93406. sierraclub8@gmail.com

Santa Lucia Chapter

2019 Executive CommitteeSue Harvey (12/19) CHAIRCarmen Bouquin (12/21) MEMBERChuck Tribbey (12/19) MEMBERHeather Howell (12/20) MEMBERViolet Cavanaugh (12/20) MEMBERNancy Cole (12/20) MEMBERJennifer Bauer (12/21) VICE-CHAIR

Chuck Tribbey COUNCIL OF CLUB LEADERSKevin O’Gorman TREASURER

CommitteesPolitical Violet Cavanaugh Jennifer BauerMembership/Development OpenConservation Sue HarveyNuclear Power Task Force Rochelle Becker Linda Seeley

Printed by University Graphic Systems Cal Poly, San Luis ObispoMailing preparation services courtesy of the Silver Streaks

Office hours Monday-Friday,1:30 p.m. - 7 p.m.974 Santa Rosa StreetSan Luis Obispo

Santa Lucia ChapterP.O. Box 15755San Luis Obispo, CA 93406805-543-8717

CA Conservation Committeedelegates Jennifer Bauer, Violet CavanaughCalendar Sales OpenOutings

Chapter Director Andrew Christie sierraclub8@gmail.com

Outings Bill Waycott

Webmaster Monica TarzierTrail Guide Gary Felsman

EDITORAndrew Christie

EDITORIAL COMMITTEE

Sierra Club Sues County to Uphold Land Use Law In 2017, The Fesler FamilyTrust applied for uncondi-tional certificates of compli-ance that would create twelveland parcels on the FeslerRanch in rural ArroyoGrande, based on an anti-quated subdivision map from1905. County Planning replied:

“[T]here were no laws ineffect at that time thatregulated design and improve-ment.... Therefore, we arerequired to deny yourapplication for issuance oftwelve unconditional certifi-cates of compliance for theselots.”

Fesler appealed the denialto the County Board ofSupervisors. On October 2,2018, the majority of theBoard , Peschong (D1),Compton (D4), and Arnold(D5), voted to approve anantiquated subdivision inviolation of state law. (See“Antique Land Use Planningat Its Finest,” Sept./Oct.) In so doing, they overrodetheir Planning Department’sdenial of the application andignored the advice of theirown legal counsel, whoclearly articulated current lawsupporting the CountyPlanning Department’soriginal conclusion that thelots in question are “notseparate legal parcels recog-nized under today’s Subdivi-sion Map Act.” With 4th District SupervisorLynn Compton leading thecharge, the Board majorityupheld the appeal and took abig step toward tossing outthe rules on local land use andinviting an unregulatedstampede of development. Antiquated subdivisionsinevitably compromise futurelivability. They:disregard the general planand applicable specific plans do not conform with landuse ordinances fail to coordinate planningwith the established local

pattern and assure proper improvements are made cause incompatible landuses are detrimental to regionaleconomies lack adequate infrastructureto support development fail to consider ancillaryservices needed for develop-ment (schools, parks, fire,police).

Help support livablecommunities The board’s decision hasopened the door to a terribleprecedent. If you live in anyrural or semi-rural area of SanLuis Obispo County, the oddsare there is an antiquatedsubdivision near you. If theCounty’s approval stands, theprecedent will be set and the

LAWSUIT continued next page

Bookkeeper Sandra Cirilo

Facebook AdministratorKim Ramos

Santa Lucian • Jan./Feb. 2019 3

The Next 50 Years

Lawsuitcontinued from page 2

Christine MulhollandCarla SaundersDeborah CashKurt KupperSusan & Richard HarveyDavid & Naomi BlakelyPaul Meagher on behalf of SunWork

Welcome, guest Chapter Chair Chuck Tribbey (left) chats with California Secretaryof Resources John Laird, who spoke with event set-up volunteers from the Cal PolyEnvironmental Council during their pizza break.

On October 27, the SLO Botanical Garden hosted“A Garden of Earthly Delights,” the 50th anniversarycelebration of the Santa Lucia Chapter of the SierraClub. A good time was emphatically had by all, whetherchecking out the silent auction items and loading upon goodies provided by Something’s CookingCatering , participating in the live auction, or rockingout to the Back Pages Band.

and:With thanks to our sponsors:

Organizers Jennifer Von DerLohe, Wanda McDonald andDawn Annoni did a fantasticjob, donated auction itemswere spectacular, and the food,beer, wine, music and magicmade it a great day!

- Assistant County CounselTim McNulty on the Board

majority’s decision to createland parcels in violation of

state law

“That’s going to openup a door for more thanjust Mr. Fesler.”

We must send a clear message to the boardof supervisors. If the county’s action stands,the many owners of antiquated subdivisionscreated before the advent of modern land usepolicies will demand that their maps bedeclared valid, providing an end run aroundthe requirements of the county’s GeneralPlan to the great detriment of rural lands. Weare seeking to head off that outcome and tocheck the arrogantly unlawful actions of theSLO County Board majority.

problems listed here arelikely to start appearing inyour back yard. The Santa Lucia Chapter ofthe Sierra Club is defendingyour quality of life by legallychallenging this irresponsibleaction in court.

Because the Sierra Club engages in political advocacy, donations to the Sierra Club are usually not tax-deductible. Butyou can help fund the charitable part of our chapter’s work, including public interest litigation, conservation campaigns,and public education, and make your donation tax-deductible by making out your check to The Sierra Club Foundationand sending to Sierra Club, P.O. Box 15755, San Luis Obispo, CA 93406. (Write “Santa Lucia Chapter” in the Memosection.) For a tax-deductible credit card donation, you can just send us a note with the name on the card, amount to be donated,your credit card number, expiration date, and signature. (Write “Foundation Deposit” at the top.) We look forward to partnering with you in 2019 to protect the SLO Coast we know and love.

Want to support our public interest litigation, conservation campaigns and outreach?It’s tax-deductible

4 Santa Lucian • Jan./Feb. 2019

How FarShould YouTrust an OilCompany?

It’s Time to Say:

Exxon, Be Gone

As far as you can toss a tanker

Santa Barbara County isprocessing Plains’ applicationto build another coastal oilpipeline that would restartdrilling from six decrepitoffshore oil platforms in theSanta Barbara Channel. Houston-based Plains wascriminally negligent inallowing its previous coastaloil pipeline to becomecorroded and fail, coatingSanta Barbara area beaches incrude and killing hundreds ofbirds and marine mammals. Itdoesn’t deserve anotheropportunity to kill threatenedwildlife, poison our communi-ties and wreck the climate. Plains All AmericanPipeline is proposing to buildmore than 123 miles of newoil pipeline through SantaBarbara (73 miles), San LuisObispo (37 miles) and Kerncounties (14 miles), transport-ing heavy crude pumped fromoffshore drilling platforms toonshore processing facilities.Plains also proposes toabandon in place about 123miles of its old failed oilpipelines. The new pipeline willmostly follow the same routeas the old broken pipeline –which was built based onenvironmental studies done inthe late ‘80s – in a rapidlychanging coastal zone that isnow being affected by coastalerosion, sea level rise andother impacts from climatechange.

A history of violations Investigators responding toa massive coastal oil spill nearRefugio State Beach in 2015found the source, PlainsPipeline 901, to be severelycorroded and poorly main-tained. In September 2018, aSanta Barbara jury foundPlains guilty of a felony for

new fossil fuel leases infederal waters off Californiain more than 30 years.Hundreds of new offshorewells could be drilled incoming years. The 2015 Plains Pipeline oilspill blackened Santa Barbaraarea beaches for miles andkilled hundreds of birds andmarine mammals, including atleast 74 California sea lions.Even larger spills are possibleonce the project reactivateslong-dormant offshore plat-forms and pipelines. Allowing drilling in federalwaters off Southern Californiato resume and expand wouldlikely result in hundreds of oilspills that would harm Cali-fornia sea otters, blue whalesand other animals vulnerableto Pacific drilling. Resumingoffshore fracking wouldfurther dirty our oceans andharm marine life.

Plains All-American Pipeline caused the Refugio Oil Spill of 2015, California’s worst coastal oil spill in25 years. Now it wants another chance to spill again.

failing to properly maintainits pipeline and eight misde-meanor charges for a delay inreporting the spill and for itsdeadly impact on protectedwildlife. The jury concludedthe company knew or shouldhave known that its pipelinewas corroded and about tofail. Plains All AmericanPipeline had a bad safetyrecord even before theRefugio spill. Federal recordsshow the company had 175incidents from 2006-2015,most of them oil spills,including 11 in California.Federal enforcement actionswere launched against thecompany 20 times during thatperiod, many for corrosioncontrol and maintenanceproblems on its pipelines. Federal data show oilpipelines are dangerous andprone to failure, particularly

when they’re either old orbrand new, the latter oftenbecause of faulty welds. From1986-2015, there were nearly8,000 serious pipeline breaksin the U.S., causing more than2,300 injuries and nearly $7billion in property damage.More than a third of thosewere from corrosion or otherspontaneous failures. Six offshore drillingplatforms – ExxonMobil’sPlatforms Harmony, Heritageand Hondo; and FreeportMcMoRan’s PlatformsHarvest, Hermosa andHidalgo – were all idled byPlains’ 2015 pipeline failure.The new pipeline could restartoil production, prolong thelifespan of aging offshoreinfrastructure, and serve newoffshore drilling planned bythe Trump administration.The Trump administration isproposing to offer the first

At 11:59 a.m. on Tuesday,Nov. 6, as SLO County voterswere going to the polls to voteon Measure G, the ballotinitiative designed to protectthe county’s aquifers fromexpanded oil field operationsand keep fracking and other“enhanced” oil extraction methods out of the county, the Cali-fornia Division of Oil, Gas, and Geothermal Resources let it beknown that it was “considering a proposal to exempt the Midway-Sunset Oil Field, located in Kern County and San Luis ObispoCounty, CA. Subject to approval by the United States EnvironmentalProtection Agency, the proposed aquifer exemption would allow theState, in compliance with the federal Safe Drinking Water Act, to

TRUST continued next page

If we defeat these proposals,we have a chance of keepingthis oil in the ground andmarking the beginning of theend of offshore oil inCalifornia.

Anta

ndru

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Santa Lucian • Jan./Feb. 2019 5

More than 80 West Coast communities have voiced their opposition tooffshore drilling, and more than 1 million Americans have submittedcomments demanding we keep offshore oil in the ground. Yet the Trumpadministration continues to prioritize the profits of the fossil fuel industryover the interests of our communities and the health of our oceans. Join the Center for Biological Diversity and friends on the 50th anniver-sary of the ‘69 Santa Barbara oil spill to protest the Trump administration’splan to drill and frack our oceans. We’ll gather outside of the Bureau ofOcean Energy Management Pacific office in Camarillo to tell Trump thatoffshore drilling and the oil spills, leaky pipelines and climate chaos thatcome with it are not welcome off our coast.

Monday, January 28, 10 a.m. – 11 a.m.760 Paseo Camarillo, Camarillo

RSVP on Facebook: “Protest 50 Years of Offshore Drilling and Spilling”

Protest 50 Years of OffshoreDrilling and Spilling

approve Class II injection into the identified area, either forenhanced oil recovery or for injection disposal of fluidsassociated with oil and gas production.” The principal operator of Midway-Sunset, the largest oil fieldin California, is Chevron, which had just contributed the lion’sshare of $8 million to a campaign to convince SLO County

voters that oil companies had no plans to bring to SLO Countythe “enhanced” oil recovery methods that Measure G wouldhave prohibited. Later that night, with most votes counted, that campaignproved successful. Voters who had been persuaded to vote “no”on Measure G could then look to the east to see the outlines of agiant, upraised, oil-soaked middle finger, now visible to all.

Trustcontinued from page 4

Deliver a Resolution to Your CityCouncil: Oppose the Exxon OilTrucking and Pipeline PlansAttention Sierra Club members: You and two orthree friends showing up during the publiccomment session of your next city council meetingcan help make Exxon be gone!

For talking points, a sample resolution , or to gethooked up with a team that has already volun-teered to approach your council, contactsierraclub8@gmail.com or call (805) 543-8717.

TAKE ACTION

6 Santa Lucian • Jan./Feb. 2019

New Dealcontinued from page 1

We need a massive public investmentto transition from an economy builton exploitation and fossil fuels to onedriven by dignified work and cleanenergy. We need to upgrade ourinfrastructure, overhaul our energysystem, retrofit our buildings, andrestore our ecosystems. We need tocreate family-sustaining jobs, guaran-tee clean air and water, raise wages,and build climate resilience – withpriority access for frontline communi-ties. We need a Green New Deal.

To tackle the climate crisisat the speed that justice andscience demand, a Green NewDeal would upgrade ourinfrastructure, revitalize ourenergy system, retrofit ourbuildings, and restore ourecosystems. In so doing, aGreen New Deal would cutclimate pollution whilecreating millions of family-sustaining jobs, expandingaccess to clean air and water,raising wages, and buildingclimate resilience. To counter-act inequality, those benefitswould go first and foremost tothe working class families andcommunities of color thathave endured the brunt of thefossil fuel economy.

What would a Green NewDeal achieve? Millions of family-sustain-ing jobs: Whether replacinglead pipes, weatherizinghomes, expanding railways, ormanufacturing wind turbines,millions of workers will leadthe transition to a neweconomy. The jobs createdmust be high-road, union jobswith family-sustaining wagesand benefits, safe workingconditions, and training andadvancement opportunities. Climate sanity: A GreenNew Deal would help usswiftly transition to a cleanenergy economy. By investingin smart grids for renewableenergy distribution, encourag-ing energy-efficient manufac-turing, and expanding low-emissions public transit, aGreen New Deal wouldsignificantly reduce climatepollution. Clean air and water: AGreen New Deal would cleanup hazardous waste sites andreduce toxic air and waterpollution from oil, gas, andcoal. Those benefiting themost would be the communi-ties of color and low-incomefamilies who today enduredisproportionate exposure totoxins. Lower costs: A Green NewDeal would help workingclass families slash their

energy bills and reduce theirtransit costs by offering moreenergy-efficient homes,access to affordable wind andsolar power, and morereliable options for affordablepublic transportation. Community resilience:Communities need greaterresources to ensure safety andgrowth amid rising climaterisks. A Green New Dealwould help climate-exposedcommunities build bridges

that can withstand floods,restore wetlands that bufferhurricanes, and shieldcoastlines from sea level rise. Greater racial and eco-nomic equity: The dispropor-tionate benefits of a GreenNew Deal would go to theworking-class families andcommunities of color thathave endured disproportionateeconomic and environmentalhazards for decades. A GreenNew Deal must counteractsystemic racism and economicexploitation by giving hard-hitcommunities priority access tonew job opportunities, costsavings, pollution cleanupprojects, and climate resil-ience initiatives.

What policies are part of aGreen New Deal?A Green New Deal is not asingle law, but a suite ofeconomic policies to deliver

better job opportunities, lessclimate pollution, cleaner airand water, and more resilientcommunities. Here are threeexamples. Infrastructure Renewal: Wehave a major, job-creatingopportunity to repair, upgrade,and expand our country’sneglected roads, bridges,energy grid, and water sys-tems. This is not only a matterof fixing what’s broken – it’s achance to build a cleaner,more affordable, and moreresilient infrastructure systemthat supports workers andfrontline communities forcoming generations. Specificprojects in a Green New Dealinfrastructure overhaul wouldinclude: expanding access tolight rail and low-emissionspublic transit, replacing leadpipes, building a smart grid forincreased wind and solarpower, replacing stormwater

systems to prevent floodingand toxic runoff, and restoringwetlands and other naturalbuffers that protect com-munities. Each project mustfulfill high-road standards: - Create family-sustainingjobs. Each project should berequired to pay workersprevailing wages, hire locally,offer training opportunities,and sign project laboragreements with unions.- Tackle pollution and climatechange. Priority should begiven to projects that buildresilience or reduce climateand local pollution, and thematerials used should beclimate-resilient, energyefficient, and produced viaclean manufacturing.- Level the playing field.Priority should be given toprojects that benefit low-

NEW DEAL continued on page 7

How about it, Rep. Hoyer? Activists filled Steny Hoyer’s D.C. office on Dec. 10 to urge him to support theestablishment of a Select Committee for a Green New Deal. Go to jdems.us/gnd.

Santa Lucian • Jan./Feb. 2019 7

income families and commu-nities of color, with commu-nity benefit agreements usedto ensure support for commu-nity-defined priorities.- Help communities, notcorporations. This infrastruc-ture transformation should belarge in scale, driven bypublic funds, and spent onpublic infrastructure, so thattax dollars support theresilience of communities, notthe profit margins of CEOs.Weatherize America: Eachtime that a homeowner,business, or local governmentdecides to weatherize abuilding, it supports jobs,slashes energy bills, and cutsclimate pollution. A nation-wide Green New Deal plan toweatherize buildings fromcoast to coast would createhundreds of thousands ofretrofitting jobs, save familiesbillions of dollars, and moveus closer to climate sanity. Wecould achieve these goalswith new national energyefficiency standards forpublic and private buildings,

with public investments tohelp energy utilities imple-ment the standards. Thebuilding weatherizationprojects enabled by thisfunding should be required topay prevailing wages andfocus training opportunitiesin working class communi-ties. New national standardsfor more energy-efficientappliances and industrialprocesses would create evenmore high-road jobs inmanufacturing and engineer-ing, while further cuttingenergy costs, toxic emissions,and climate pollution. Buy Clean: Each year thefederal government spendsbillions of our tax dollars to

buy goods, from steel forbridges to paper for offices.As part of a Green New Deal,a new “Buy Clean” law wouldensure that these governmentpurchases help fuel the tran-sition to a clean energy econ-omy and the creation of goodjobs for those who need themmost. Buy Clean standardswould require that tax dollarsbe spent on goods manufac-tured with clean and efficientpractices that protect our air,water, and climate. Thesestandards also would requirethat government contractorspay family-sustaining wages,hire and train local workers,and locate job opportunitiesin working class communities.

We now have a something that has been sorely missing: a concreteplan on the table, complete with a science-based timeline, that isnot only coming from social movements on the outside of govern-ment, but which also has a sizable (and growing) bloc of committedchampions inside the House of Representatives.

- Naomi Klein, The Intercept, November 28, 2018

Isn’t a Green New Dealpretty hypothetical? None of this is hypothetical.It’s already happening. Fromcoast to coast, broad localcoalitions are leading the wayin pushing state-level GreenNew Deal policies that creategood jobs, cut climate andlocal pollution, and counteractracial and economic inequity. As Donald Trump desper-ately tries to divide us, unions,environmental groups andracial justice organizations arejoining forces to chart the pathfor a Green New Deal. Theirlocal successes offer a modelfor a nation-wide mobilizationunder a new administration.

New Dealcontinued from previous page

By Andrew Christie, Chapter Director

In 2010, Jeff Denham (R-Fresno) was elected to the House ofRepresentatives as part of the midterm Republican takeover ofCongress two years after Barack Obama was elected president.Below is a partial reprint of an article that appeared in theMarch 2011 issue of the Santa Lucian that accompanied myreport on that year’s Good Jobs, Green Jobs National Confer-ence in Washington. It now serves as an illustration of the twinnecessities of electing the right kind of representatives to makea Green New Deal possible, and removing the wrong kind. TheBlue Wave of 2018 swept Rep. Denham out of Congress.

Congressman Denham, Call Your Office Thursday, February 10, the day after the Good Jobs, GreenJobs conference, was “advocacy day” on Capitol Hill for con-ference attendees. In the course of visiting with Members ofCongress and their staff, my group dropped by the office ofRepublican freshman Representative Jeff Dehnam, where wemet with the Congressman’s aide, Ryan Hanretty. Since his arrival in Congress, Rep. Denham has voted withhis party 100 percent of the time. I mentioned that the GOP’s promise to slash funding for theEnvironmental Protection Agency was a bad idea. Hanretty

TAKE ACTIONShow your support at tinyurl.com/agreennewdeal

replied that this was beingcontemplated as part ofacross-the-board cuts thatwould require the same levelof belt-tightening at all federalagencies to ensure fairness. I replied that cuts at the EPA were not like cuts to otherfederal agencies, as the reduction or elimination of EPAprograms would mean an increase in polluted air, water, andtoxic waste sites awaiting clean up, and that decreased ability toprotect public health would mean a corresponding increase inthe rates of cancer, asthma, and other diseases caused byenvironmental factors. Hanretty countered that the same argument could be maderegarding budget cuts at the IRS, because the more funds thatagency has, the greater its ability to recover unpaid taxesthrough enforcement efforts. T.J. Michaels, a labor organizer with Change to Win, affablyinquired if Hanretty thought that the parents of childrensickened or killed by polluted air and water as a result of EPA

Electoral RepairThe gentleman yields FormerRep. Denham’s ideas about en-vironmental protection have leftthe building.

REPAIR continued on page 9

8 Santa Lucian • Jan./Feb. 2019

By the SLO Climate Coalition

After ten years of commu-nity leadership, our brandnew, local Community ChoiceEnergy program was ap-proved by the SLO CityCouncil on September 18 andby the Morro Bay CityCouncil on September 25,both by unanimous 5-0 votes.

Paperwork was submitted tothe state. Unfortunately, on October11, the California PublicUtility Commission (CPUC)put a huge wrinkle in ourplans by unfairly transferringthe costs of their poorplanning onto communitychoice energy programs,dramatically increasing the “exit fees” all CCE customersmust pay to utilities, effec-tively killing the visionaryprogram we’d fought so hardto create just as it was being

born. We are fighting back! Thankfully, we had a PlanB. On November 7th, the firstand last “Central CoastCommunity Choice Energy”board meeting took place.With this new information,the board members dissolved

their fledgling program andrecommended its membersjoin an existing program withsimilar goals instead. In response, the cities ofSan Luis Obispo and MorroBay quickly rallied to holdanother vote and unanimouslyagreed to join an existingCCE: Monterey Bay Commu-nity Power, just north of us!Monterey Bay CommunityPower (MBCP) offers threekey benefits: Reduction in greenhouse

gas emissions

Community Choice Energy on the Central Coastis finally a reality!

Lower cost to customers Investment in our local

community. MBCP’s default powerportfolio, MBchoice, iscarbon-free, sourced fromrenewable sources such assolar, wind, and carbon freesources such as hydroelectric

generation. Cost savingswill come from a mini-mum 3% rebate for allcustomers. Buildup oflocal energy sources isgearing up, which willresult in increases inemployment opportuni-ties and sustainability. In 2019 we willprepare for SLO and

Morro Bay to begin serviceJanuary 1, 2020, just oneyear from now! We will workto increase awareness of thebenefits of CCE and expandMBCP into a larger CentralCoast Community Energyprogram by adding othercommunities in San LuisObispo and northern SantaBarbara Counties that willdeliver on our vision of localbenefits and deep decarbon-ization. For more information, go tocarbonfreeslo.org.

Fiscalini Ranch PreserveProject Manager HollySletteland hosted 15 SierraClub members from Florida,Texas, Idaho, etc. who joinedFriends of the Fiscalini RanchPreserve in Cambria for a dayof service on December 15. Volunteers energeticallyremoved invasive ice plantalong the ocean bluffs. “It went very well and theyworked incredibly hard – afull six hours,” said Holly. “Charley, the leader, indi-cated he wanted to make surethat the ranch was part of allfuture trips to the centralcoast and I said I’d love that,so hopefully it will happen.” Sierra Club Outings runsabout 90 service trips eachyear nationwide, donatingroughly 27,000 work hours tostate and federal landagencies. Service trips rangefrom helping with researchprojects at whale calvinggrounds in Maui to assisting

A Day ofService atFiscaliniRanch

Love ThatDirty Water? Neither do we. Go to #DirtyWaterRule, #ProtectCleanWater, or #NoDirtyWater tofight the Trump admini-stration’s wipeout of theClean Water Act.

with archaeological siterestoration in New Mexico. Service trip participantsmay team up with forestservice rangers or parkservice personnel to restore

wilderness areas,maintain trails,clean up trashand camp-sites, and removenon-nativeplants. Go toSierraclub.org/outings and clickon Activities,Service/Volun-teer.

Santa Lucian • Jan./Feb. 2019 9

Accept no substitutes. Your desk will thank you. Your wallwill thank you. Your friends and family will thank you. Andwhen you buy direct from the Chapter, you support theSierra Club’s conservation work in San LuisObispo County. We thank you.10% off!wall calendar: $13.50desk calendar: $14.50 5 left

5 or more: 15% off!

Whether new to the Sierra Club or new to San Luis Obispo,welcome all to the Santa Lucia Chapter. We’re very happy tohave you aboard!

Welcome New Members!

Send your check to:

2019 Sierra Club Calendars

Sierra ClubP.O. Box 15755San Luis Obispo, CA 93406

budget cuts might have a problem with a Congressman whoconsidered this to be equivalent to the effects of cutting thebudget of the IRS. Hanretty demurred that “We would tell the EPA it needs tocut a certain amount from its budget, and it would be up tothem where to make the cuts,” hence avoiding cuts to vitalprograms. Well, no. The following day, the GOP’s attack on the EPA’ sClean Air Act authority became official with the rollout ofHR 1, House Republicans’ 2011 budget proposal. Sierra ClubExecutive Director Michael Brune commented that “the Housebill includes the largest percentage cut to the EnvironmentalProtection Agency’s budget in 30 years, an agency whoseprimary responsibility is to protect the health and safety ofAmericans. For example, the bill would prevent the EPA fromenforcing Clean Water Act protections against oil spills andwaste dumping into drinking water sources of more than 117million Americans.” An additional rider would prohibit EPAfrom carrying out its mandate to regulate greenhouse gaspollution.

Repaircontinued from page 7

Vance WeberAnnelie HeinemannShea PettyPaul GreilingBruce FalkenhagenChris AndersonPaige ChamberlainMichael VedrinKatherine CorsonNancy KollinerColin SmithChristine FergusonMadeline FeiglesKori HarveyKathleen FisherKaylin O’GormanMaureen RoseJohn HuetterSuzanne SchoffstollPatricia DowdMelinda Van HornArt Wells

free shipping!

Margaret WebbStephanie BurchielStanley CooperMargaret KorisheliTina LevitanJames HowellLinda VasquezRobert StublerElse DrenglerLorraine RowlandElexia EstradaGeraldine Baker

TransfersEugenia HaynieDale SutliffEllen AyresShirley RitterDoug & Riekie DormanPaul VolkerElenie AntonsenHow They Lost

“One, the environment matters to voters. As a party, we havesomehow forgotten that conservatism should apply to morethan just financial resources. Being conservative should entailbeing conservative with natural resources, too. I’ve alwaysbelieved this — so much so that the Sierra Club endorsed mein my race for re-election as governor.”

- “A Wake-Up Call for the G.O.P.: My South Carolina districthadn’t voted for a Democrat in 40 years. What happened?”

by Mark Sanford, New York Times, Nov. 13, 2018.

10 Santa Lucian • Jan./Feb. 2019

intractable problems at thedunes is at hand throughreasoned negotiation andvoluntary measures. But:

In 2016, the Off-HighwayMotor Vehicle RecreationDivision of State Parksclaimed that the Environmen-tal Impact Report for long-term dust reduction on theOceano Dunes must consider“recreational impacts,” anattempt to stand the Califor-nia Environmental QualityAct on its head by pretendingthat CEQA requires them toanalyze the impact of dustcontrol measures on off-highway vehicle recreation,not the other way around.This accompanied an analysisthat avoided the most poten-tially effective dust controlmeasures and instead focusedon preserving the maximumoff-road riding area on thedunes. (See “On the Thresh-old of Insignificance,” May2017.) Then, late last year, theOHMVR Division issued aTransition ImplementationPlan that will “embed theSVRA’s recreation focusthroughout DPR and serve to

strengthen DPR’s commit-ment to recreation… provid-ing a unified statewideapproach to acquisitions, landuse planning and defensiveplanning.” Setting aside the fact thatthere is only one kind ofrecreation the OHMVRDivision is interested in andthat this makes the OHMVRDivision’s plan look a lot likea corporate culture takeoverof State Parks, we were struckby the use of the phrase“defensive planning,” a termwe have never seen or heardin conjunction with land useissues or the work of planningdepartments. It does not seemto exist in that field. However, the term doesenjoy regular usage in otherfields – mostly in one particu-lar field – as a quick websearch will disclose. Here, for example, is atypical reference from theSpecial Tactics website (left),offering online course trainingin Close Quarters Battle, VIPProtection, Knife Defense,Infantry Rural Combat, etc.:“Defensive planning beginswith conducting a threatassessment. Decision makerscomplete a prioritized threatlist and disseminate that listdown to subordinate units toform the basis for defensiveplanning…. The next step isto think through (or “war-game”) specific contingenciesof how each threat could playout in real life.” And so on. Memo to the APCD andCoastal Commission: Thisdoes not bode well for thespirit of cooperation with anagency that continues to makeit clear that it considers off-road recreation to be a pri-ority on the same level as, orhigher than, the protection ofhuman health, endangeredspecies and their habitat.

Dunes and Defensiveness SLO County,the Air PollutionControl District,and the Califor-nia CoastalCommission havepinned manyhopes on thenotion that theCaliforniaDepartment ofParks andRecreation haslately turnedover a new leafin the decades-long struggle tobring the OceanoDunes StateVehicularRecreation Areainto compliance

Say what now? Let’s all ponder what the Off-Highway Motor Vehicle RecreationDivision may mean by “defensive planning.”

with state coastallaw and local airquality regula-tions. New management at StateParks and new pledges ofcooperation, the theory goes,means a new day is dawningand a resolution of the

Santa Lucian • Jan./Feb. 2019 11

(805) 549-0355

Bill Waycott, Outings Chair(805) 459-2103 orbill.waycott@gmail.com

Outingscontinued from page 12

“He was truly aninspiration forall who loveMother Earth.”The Santa Lucia Chapterthanks Vita Miller for hergenerous donation in memoryof Bill Denneen.

sign in. 6.6 milesroundtrip with a 300 ft.elevation change.Come prepared to talkabout birds, plants, anddiscover the pictur-esque headlands(binoculars recom-mended). Bring water,snacks, and dress inlayers. A hat and sturdyshoes advised. ContactBill, 805-459-2103.

Saturday, Feb.9th,8:00 am. FernandezSemi-loop Hike, Pozo.This hike is on a re-mote trail northeast ofPozo, in the La Panzamountain range, main-tained by our friends inthe Central CoastConcerned MountainBikers club. Strenuous,11 miles, 1,600 feet ofelevation gain. Part ofour trek will go off thetrail to follow Fer-nandez Creek and re-turn to the trail makingit more of a challengewith a steeper slopeand some brush. Ifanyone wants to cutbrush with handclippers along the way,

it would be helpful.Some poison oak ex-posure. Meet in frontof the Pacific BeverageCo. in Santa Margaritaat 8:00 am. Dogs onleash are welcome.Rain postpones. Con-tact Carlos, 805-546-0317.

Saturday, Feb. 9th,8:30 am. False AlanPeak, Montaña deOro State Park. Hikeis @ 12 miles round-trip. 1,800 ft elevationgain and loss. We’lltake the Oats PeakTrail to the summit,then continue on toFalse Alan. Timepermitting, we’ll returnalong Coon Creek,slowing to observe theunique plants in thisriparian area. Meet atValencia PeakTrailhead in Montañade Oro State Park.Bring at least 2.5 litersof water per person,lunch and snacks. Lugsole boots (asopposed to sneakers)are recommended forthe gravelly trails inMDO. Sorry, dogs arenot allowed on any ofthe MDO trails.

Contact Lisa310-864-4679. Raincancels.

Saturday,Feb. 16th,8:30 am,EasternSLO CountyExplor-ation. Comeexplore oneof myfavoriteplaces east ofPozo. Wewill useranch roads,some crosscountry,possiblymuddy areas,as we explorethis wonder-ful area. 8-10

miles,1,500feet elevationgain. Bringlunch, water,sturdy shoesand dress forthe weather.Meet at PacificBeverageCompany inSanta Marga-rita. No dogsexcept withexplicit priorpermission bythe hike leader.If permitted,the dog mustbe leashed atall times, as weare on a privateranch withcattle roamingthe area.Contact Gary805-473-3694.Rain or threat of raincancels.

Saturday, Feb.16th and Sunday Feb.24th, 9:00 am to 5:00pm, Red CrossWilderness First AidCourse. Would you tolike to feel more con-fident in the wildernessknowing you can carefor your family andfriends? Are you aSierra Club OutingsLeader who would liketo lead overnightbackpacking trips?Then you will want toparticipate in this RedCross Wilderness FirstAid Training Course. The course is $110.00per person and will beheld near San Luis

Obispo in an outdoorsetting, to simulate thewilderness experience.Class size is limited to10 participants and willbe reserved on a firstcome, first-servedbasis. Red Cross AdultCPR/AED/First Aidcertification is a pre-requisite. WildernessFirst Aid Certificationis valid for 3 years. Contact Lisa, 310-864-4679.

Monday to Thursday,Feb. 25th to 28th,2019, Camping andHiking in DeathValley National Park. On Monday, we willmeet at noon at thePanamint SpringsCampground ($10 per

car) on Hwy. 190, justoff Panamint ValleyRoad. In the afternoonwe will hike to DarwinFalls. Tuesday, we willmove to MesquiteSprings Campgroundand hike the rim ofUbehebe Crater.Wednesday, we willhike Titus Canyon andreturn to camp.Thursday, we will packup and go to theMesquite Dunes for amorning hike on thedunes before headinghome. All hikes will beat a leisurely pace. Forreservations contactCarol, 760-245-8734.Mojave Group/CNRCC DesertCommittee.

12 Santa Lucian • Jan./Feb. 2019Sierra ClubSanta Lucia ChapterP. O. Box 15755San Luis Obispo, CA 93406

NONPROFIT ORG.U.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPERMIT NO. 84

SAN LUIS OBISPOCA 93401

Outings and Activities CalendarSeller of travel registration information: CST 2087766-40. Registration as a seller of travel does not constitute approval by the State of California.

All our hikes and activities are open to all Club members and the general public. Please bring drinking water to alloutings and optionally a lunch. Sturdy footwear is recommended. All phone numbers listed are within area code805 unless otherwise noted. Pets are generally not allowed. A parent or responsible adult must accompany childrenunder the age of 18. If you have any suggestions for hikes or outdoor activities, questions about the Chapter’souting policies, or would like to be an outings leader, call Outings Chair Bill Waycott, (805) 459-2103. Forinformation on a specific outing, please call the listed outing leader.

This is a partial listing of Outingsoffered by our chapter.

Please check the web pagewww.santalucia.sierraclub.org for

the most up-to-date listing ofactivities.

OUTINGS cont. on page 11

Island Hopping in Channel Islands National ParkApril 7-9, May 5-7, June 9-11, July 14-16, August 18-20, September 22-24, October 20-22. Join us for a 3-day, 3-island,live-aboard tour of the Channel Islands. Hike wild, windswepttrails bordered with blazing wildflowers. Kayak rugged coastlines,Marvel at pristine waters teeming with seals and sea lions. Trainyour binoculars on sea and land birds and an occasional whale.Watch for the endangered island fox. Look for reminders of theChumash people who lived on these islands for thousands ofyears. Or just relax at sea. Departs from Santa Barbara. $730,includes assigned bunk, all meals, snacks and beverages. Kayakingoverseen by our concessionaire; all hikes will be on trails, class 1terrain. This is a fundraiser to support the Sierra Club politicalprogram in California. To reserve space, send a $200 check,written to California Sierra Club PAC, to Joan Jones Holtz, 11826The Wye St., El Monte, CA 91732. For more information contactleaders Joan Jones Holtz: jholtzhln@aol.com, 626-443-0706 orWayne Vollaire avollaire1@gmail.com, 909-327-6825.

Tuesday, Jan. 1st,9:30 am, New Year’sSenior Saunter atMontana de Oro.Sociable walk alongdunes and ocean bluffs,3 miles roundtrip. Meet at Montana deOro State Park visitorscenter near Spooner’sCove. Contact Joe,805-549-0355. Raincancels.

Sunday, Jan. 6th, 9:00am, Fiscalini RanchPreserve, Cambria.Join us for a look at thebiology of this spec-tacular open spaceoverlooking the PacificOcean. Our visit willinclude tidal effect

zones, seasonalfreshwater marshes andwetlands, as well as theMonterey pine forest(one of three nativestands in the world).Meet at the south endof Windsor Blvd inCambria. Bring yourwildflower guides,water, food, hat, sturdyshoes, and dress inlayers. Contact BillWaycott, 805-459-2103. Rain or the threatof rain cancels.

Saturday, Jan.19th,8:30 am, Rinconadato Big Falls Hike. Joinus on this out and backtrek to one of SLOCounty’s more impres-

sive water falls. If weget some rain prior tothis date, it will makethe 12-mile excursionmore worthwhile. Thisis a moderately stren-uous hike with a 1,400feet of elevation gain.Bring lunch, water andhiking shoes. Therewill probably be somepoison oak and twominor creek crossings.Dogs on leash wel-come. Meet in front ofthe Pacific BeverageCo. in Santa Margarita.Contact Carlos, 805-546-0317. Rainpostpones.

Saturday, Feb. 2, 9:30 am, Senior

Saunter at EagleRock, El Chorro Reg.Park. Sociable walkto hilltop overlookingfive Morros, 2 milesroundtrip,400 ft. gain. Meet atparking lot atend of DairyCreek Rd inEl ChorroRegionalPark, acrossHwy 1 fromCuestaCollege.Contact Joe, 805-549-0355. Rain cancels.

Saturday, Feb. 2nd, 9:00 am, Point Buchon Trail,

Montaña de Oro StatePark. Meet at the CoonCreek Trailhead park-ing lot at the south endof MDO. We will walkto the PG&E kiosk and