I would like to share with the South San Jose residents some of the public interventions at the meeting held on 8/19/99. Unfortunately, I could not make it on time and I could only assist to the 5' presentations that the public was allowed. A copy of the presentation of the Green Party of Santa Clara County (I'm not part of it) can be found also in FEEDBACK, so I do not need to comment on it.

There were several presentations. Unfortunately, the sound and the acustics were really bad and I could not make much of several of them. I did not take notes either, so I am relying on my memory.

A gentleman saying to represent construction unions said that he strongly supported the plant, and that the fears of residents that the real estate value of their properties will go down is unfounded, since that value is not determined by location, but by supply and demand (that's what he said, I am not making it up). Another gentleman, claiming to be a 20 year resident of South San Jose, stated his support for the plant, without elaborating (from what I can tell, that gentleman was the only resident in the meeting supporting the plant). Another gentleman, claiming that his family had lived in the valley since 1860, encouraged everybody to trust the Commission, since in other countries people cannot afford to debate issues openly as here. A lady saying that she was a schoolteacher, made one of the most moving interventions. She reminded everybody the Fairchild fiasco, and how the company had promised the residents that their operations where safe, and later on it turned out that they had poisoned the water wells. Another gentleman representing a home-owners association showed a scientific study on how property looses value according to its proximity to a power plant. There were other interventions questioning several technical aspects. I am going to summarize now my own intervention, since it's the one I can remember best.

After making some ironic comments about how great it will be for our property values if Calpine constructs its plant, I stated that I was not really worried about that. I stated that, according to Calpine's own admission, the plant will add 1200 tons of pollution per year into the area. I said that we live in an already heavily polluted area, and that we need that extra amount of pollution as much as a gardener needs ants. Also according to Calpine's records, the plant is not constructed here to attend the energy needs of San Jose, but of the Western grid (perhaps of their own greed?). Agreeing with some of the other speakers, I said that I do not disagree with the construction of the plant, but I strongly oppose it next to a residential area.

That's all. I want to make a few reflections. Before the presentations, I talked briefly with Lorraine White, project manager for the California Energy Commission's review of the Metcalf's Energy Center's Application for Certification. She was presiding the meeting. I reminded her that I had sent her an E-mail recently to which she did not respond. She claimed that she did, but she did not. I asked her if we the voters had any say in the decision, and she clearly stated that that is not the case, only the Commission (or some Commission, I could not figure out exactly what) can decide. The voters can only give their opinion, but their wish can be completely ignored (at least, she was very sincere in this). I think that it is not by chance that Calpine has chosen to make its application in a non-electionary year. Had they made it last year, when the race for San Jose Major was on, the candidates would have been forced to give their opinion on the issue. Charlotte Powers, our District representative, is not running for re-election and seems to be siding with Calpine so far. She has not responded to my E-mails either (that used not to be the case when she was campaigning and needed our votes).

Thanks for your attention.

Mario Blaum
Tel. (408) 927-2179
[email protected]