Tag Archive for: San Diego Gas & Electric

Volunteers participate in the City of San Diego's Arbor Day tree planting event in 2023. Photo: City of San Diego

Celebrate Arbor Day: Discover How San Diego’s Tree Planting Programs Combat Climate Change and Save Water

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With climate change creating new challenges for managing safe and reliable water supplies, trees are increasingly recognized and relied on for their importance in helping mitigate weather extremes and contributing to water conservation efforts.

Trees are among the most valuable investments in San Diego County’s landscape – including your own waterwise landscaping. No other landscape plant plays a more significant role in fighting climate change and managing a healthy watershed.

National Arbor Day on Friday, April 26, presents an opportunity to call attention to the benefits of planting trees. Several Arbor Day promotions and ongoing programs in San Diego County offer support for planting trees, including rebates and volunteer events that let you contribute to the effort to provide more trees.

New Tree Rebate Program Launched By Metropolitan Water District

Carefully selected trees are the most valuable addition to your sustainable landscaping. Photo: Helix Water District landscape trees

Carefully selected trees are the most valuable addition to your sustainable landscaping. Photo: Helix Water District

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California launched a new rebate program in March, offering residents and businesses $100 for each eligible tree planted in their yards to replace thirsty grass for more sustainable landscaping.

Metropolitan’s new “tree-bate” provides incentives for up to five trees in residents’ and businesses’ turf replacement projects. The district partnered with TreePeople and local water agencies to identify and recommend trees with lower water use that are appropriate for Southern California’s climate.

Learn about this new rebate and existing rebates at the Be Water Wise website.

SDGE Community Tree Rebate Program

San Diego Gas & Electric offers a tree planting guide through its rebate program. Photo: SDGE arbor day

San Diego Gas & Electric offers a tree planting guide through its rebate program. Photo: SDGE

The San Diego Gas & Electric’s (SDGE) Community Tree Rebate Program for Residential Customers allows qualifying residential customers throughout the region to plant trees that provide environmental, health, and economic benefits.

Qualifying customers can receive a $25 rebate for planting or potting a one-gallon tree, a $35 rebate for a five-gallon tree, and a $50 rebate for a 15-gallon tree. Customers can apply for up to five rebates annually. Customers do not need a yard to qualify. Trees can be planted in large containers on outdoor balconies or patio areas.

City of San Diego Arbor Day Event

Volunteers are needed for an Arbor Day event to help plant trees at Memorial Community Park. Photo: City of San Diego

Volunteers are needed for an Arbor Day event to help plant trees at Memorial Community Park. Photo: City of San Diego

On Arbor Day, the City of San Diego’s Urban Forestry Program hopes to plant 100 new trees at Memorial Community Park in Logan Heights. It needs volunteers to help with planting, prepping soil, spreading mulch, and cleanup. Learn more and sign up using this link.

Throughout the year, City of San Diego residents can request a new street tree through Free Tree SD. This program allows residents and the City to work together by increasing San Diego’s tree canopy cover. Residents need to identify a space in the public right-of-way and agree to water the tree for three years. City arborists will evaluate the space and determine an appropriate tree selection. Fill out the Free Tree SD application form on the City’s website to get started.

City of Escondido Celebrates Arbor Day 2024

The City of Escondido needs volunteers to help plant 120 trees for Arbor Day on Saturday, April 27, from 8:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Meet at the House of Prayer Lutheran Church, 795 N. Rose Street. Trees will be planted from Oleander Place to Fern Street between Lincoln Avenue and Mission Avenue. Volunteers of all ages are welcome and are asked to wear comfortable clothing for getting dirty, close-toe shoes, and a hat. Sunscreen is highly recommended. Register on the City website.

City of Vista Residential Tree Giveaway Program

The City of Vista now offers a new Residential Tree Giveaway Program. This initiative is available to Vista residents who own property or have permission from the property owner to plant a tree on the premises. The program is first-come, first-served, and available as long as the funds last. Increasing the local tree canopy on private properties enhances wildlife habitat, mitigates the effects of climate change, and supports the City’s Climate Action Plan goals.

Applications are available now. Since this is a pilot program, it is only available as long as funds last. It was funded through a $50,000 year-end fund balance request, approved by the City Council at the end of 2023. The application form is on the City of Vista website.

County of San Diego Tree Planting Program

The County of San Diego surpassed its goal of planting 10,000 trees in 2023 by adding 11,010 trees, including 5,744 new trees planted at County parks and facilities, 1,637 trees planted through non-government organizational partnerships, and 3,629 trees planted by incorporated cities. The Board of Supervisors has budgeted funds to plant 4,000 trees through spring 2024.

The County has a tree plotter to help staff track tree inventory and plantings regionwide. Residents can participate by reporting trees they plant on their own. Visit the County’s Tree Plotter web page to get started.

The Role of Trees In Preventing Climate Change

Healthy trees fight climate change and cool our cities, provide habitat, and improve the health of our neighborhoods. Photo: Kampus Production / Pexels

Healthy trees fight climate change and cool our cities, provide habitat, and improve the health of our neighborhoods. Photo: Kampus Production / Pexels

The hydrological cycle heavily relies on trees to absorb water in the atmosphere. Trees act as water reservoirs, taking in water from the soil and releasing it through their leaves, a process known as transpiration. The added moisture in the air leads to rainfall and the continuation of the water cycle.

Tree root systems filter and remove pollutants and slow down water absorption into the soil. This process helps to prevent erosion and reduce the risk of over-saturation and flooding.

Trees provide cooling to increasingly hot neighborhoods and cities, and they are among the most efficient tools for removing harmful carbon dioxide that fuels global warming.

San Diego forestry and landscaping professionals work with the San Diego County Water Authority and its 23 member agencies to help protect our region’s trees while conserving water. Find more resources at the Kate Sessions Trees website.

Storm Damage Across San Diego County: Trees Topple, Roads Closed, Power Out

/in , , /by /NBC 7 San Diegoby Christina Bravo and Amber Frias

A series of storms brought wild weather to San Diego this week, including rain that could cause flooding and gusty winds that toppled trees into cars, homes and streets and led to power outages across the county.

The first of back-to-back storms reached the region Tuesday night and by Wednesday morning had already caused widespread damage. An atmospheric river was slated to reach the county by Thursday, meaning more damage was possible in the days ahead.

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Carlsbad Desal Plant Water Output Cut 20% to Conserve Power Amid Heat Wave

/in , , /by /Times of San Diegoby Chris Jennewein

Water production at the Carlsbad desalination plan has been temporarily reduced to conserve power while the heat wave stresses California’s electric grid.

The Claude “Bud” Lewis Carlsbad Desalination Plant, which can produce up to 50 million gallons per day, typically accounts for about 1% of peak electricity demand in San Diego Gas & Electric’s service area.

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California’s Clean Grid May Lean on Oil, Gas to Avoid Summer Blackouts

/in , , /by /REUTERSby Nichola Groom

California, struggling to balance its clean energy push with the need to boost tight power supplies and avoid rolling blackouts, will lean more on fossil fuels in coming weeks to keep the power on if scorching heatwaves stretch its grid.

The Golden State, which has among the world’s most aggressive environmental policies, faces a potential supply shortfall of up to 3,500 megawatts during peak demand hours in the coming weeks. That is about 2.6 million households worth of electricity supply.

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SDG&E Releases Sustainability Strategy with Green-and Justice-Oriented Goals

/in , , /by /Times of San Diegoby City News Service

San Diego Gas & Electric released a sustainability strategy Thursday with climate change-conscious goals in the areas of environmental stewardship, clean transportation, grid modernization, community engagement and company operations.

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The Vallecitos Water District Twin Oaks Reservoir dual solar panel array is expected to be completed in November 2020. Photo: Vallecitos Water District Solar Project

Solar Project Saves Energy, Costs for Vallecitos Water District

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The Vallecitos Water District is pursuing greater use of renewable resources, increasing capacity to the electrical grid, and reducing long term operational costs with an innovative solar power project.

The west solar array is installed on top of the Vallecitos Water District’s 33-million gallon reservoir with 2,300 solar modules and eight 80 kw inverters. The east array is located on top of the 40-million gallon reservoir with 2,900 modules with ten 80 kw inverters. Photo: Vallecitos Water District

In 2017, the Vallecitos Water District Board of Directors agreed to pursue development of districtwide renewable power sources using existing open space to benefit the District and its ratepayers.  The District worked with solar consultants Terra Verde Renewable Partners to evaluate and study the feasibility of three solar port locations. Two projects are now moving forward; two arrays at the pair of Vallecitos owned reservoirs in Twin Oaks, and an array at the (sewer) Lift Station #1, located on San Marcos Boulevard.

The projects are structured under a Power Purchase Agreement. A solar provider designs, builds, and maintains systems for 25 years. In turn, the District receives a reduced electricity rate from SDG&E over the 25-year term at the District’s 13 highest use meters. The District will become owners of the solar system after the 25-year maintenance term expires. No capital investment is required from the District.

“The project is a great benefit to Vallecitos customers,” said Ryan Morgan, Capital Facilities Senior Engineer. “Through our export of power into the electrical grid, we receive bill credits on these power exchanges. The District benefits directly through reduced power costs, and that cost savings is passed down to the customer ultimately in reduced water and sewer rates.”

Multiple stakeholders working together

Vallecitos Water District provides the project sites, working with SDG&E, the solar provider team, the District’s contractors, and the solar maintenance operator. The District’s water professionals work with solar power experts to guide the project through planning, design, and construction as a team.

Over the 25-year term, the District will benefit from a reduced electrical rate of 7.79 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh) at its 13 highest use meters. It will also receive a rebate or credit on its export of power to the electrical grid. Savings to the District over 25 years are estimated at $8.3 million, which ultimately results in reduced water and sewer rates for customers. District staff locked in the maximum federal rebate by launching the project in 2019 and meeting a narrow window for grant funding.

Solar panels installed on top of two reservoirs

The Twin Oaks Reservoir dual solar panel array sites prior to installation. Photo: Vallecitos Water District solar project

The Twin Oaks Reservoir dual solar panel array sites prior to installation. Photo: Vallecitos Water District

The west solar array is installed on top of the District’s 33-million gallon reservoir with 2,300 solar modules and eight 80 kW inverters. The east array is located on top of the 40-million gallon reservoir with 2,900 modules with ten 80 kW inverters. The total production is roughly 3.6 MWh annually, enough to power 340 homes.

Local power conservation remains vital

The Twin Oaks Reservoir dual solar array total production is roughly 3.6 mWh annually, enough to power 340 homes. Photo: Vallecitos Water District

The Twin Oaks Reservoir dual solar array total production is roughly 3.6 mWh annually, enough to power 340 homes. Photo: Vallecitos Water District

While the solar power project cannot prevent the potential for power outages due to rolling blackouts, the project helps to add capacity to the power grid when it is needed.

“The District wants to publicly thank Terre Verde Renewable Partners, Holt Renewables, and Kenyon Energy for their valuable roles in the success of this project,” said Morgan.  “We also want to acknowledge the above and beyond effort of the District’s inspections team.”

The Twin Oaks Reservoir dual array is expected to be completed in November 2020. The Lift Station #1 site is expected to be completed in February of 2021.

Opinion: Failure to Renew SDG&E Franchise Would Put San Diego at Risk

/in , /by /Times of San Diegoby Nate Fairman, Jeremy Abrams and Keith Maddox

San Diego Gas & Electric linemen understand risk.

The women and men of IBEW Local 465 are essential workers who put their lives on the line every day. They climb electrical poles with nothing but a safety belt and steel spikes between them and a 100-foot fall. They wear protective equipment to weld and maintain the safest gas system in the nation. When a fire strikes, or a storm takes down power lines, they are first responders. Utility workers assess risks every day to keep the lights on and the gas flowing for millions of San Diego families.
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MWD Grants SDG&E Permanent Easement in Pala

/in , /by /Fallbrook Village Newsby Joe Naiman Mentioned: San Diego County Water Authority

The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California granted San Diego Gas and Electric an permanent easement on MWD property in Pala.

The MWD board vote Feb. 11 approves the granting of the easement including conditions. SDG&E will obtain a 12-foot wide easement along the northern edge of the MWD property in the 39000 block of Pala Temecula Road.

MWD’s Pipeline 6 currently conveys water from Lake Skinner to Anza Road at De Portola Road in Temecula. That 7-mile segment is considered the northern reach of Pipeline 6; the southern reach would extend from Anza Road at De Portola Road to the San Diego County Water Authority delivery point approximately 6 miles south of the Riverside County line.

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Can San Diego Ditch The Power Company? Not Without A Fight

/in , /by /New York Timesby Ivan Penn

For the last 18 years, California regulators have shaped energy policy largely based on fear. They wanted to avoid repeating the disastrous experience that followed the deregulation of the energy market, which left the state vulnerable to manipulation by the energy traders and caused a power crisis that led to soaring electricity prices and blackouts. In response, they approved new power plants — more than the state could even use. They expanded the network of power lines with billions of dollars. They developed a system of trading electricity throughout the West.

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