MEA's Conflict with the Sierra Club

(E-mailed to the Marin Energy Authority on May 10, 2012)

Marin Energy Authority Board Members

Damon Connolly, Kathrin Sears, Chris Martin, Tom Cromwell, Alexandra Cock, Larry Bragman, Len Rifkind, Ken Wachtel, Denise Athas, Ford Greene, Jon Leone, Dick Collins

Dear MEA Board members:

According to the Sierra Club the majority of MEA’s eligible renewable energy INCREASES greenhouse gas emissions. In fact, 50.5 percent of MEA’s renewable energy last year was landfill gas to energy. 

A recent Sierra Club Task Force report unanimously concludes “reliance on landfill gas to generate electricity results in increased net GHG emissions.” The Sierra Club report was published 11 months before MEA entered into contract negotiations for two landfill gas (biogas) facilities in Wheatland and Vacaville, obligating MEA to spend about $55 million over the life of these power purchase agreements. These facilities are scheduled for initial start-up in a few months.   

United Nations Agenda 21 and the Rio Declaration establish Climate Change Policy for national and local governments throughout the world. These documents contain the central "Precautionary Principle" which says Where there are threats of serious or irreversible damage, lack of scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason for postponing cost-effective measures to prevent environmental degradation. 

California regulators have already suspended eligibility of biomethane pipeline facilities, and legislators are currently working on revised draft legislation. Regardless, the Sierra Club's landfill gas report more than satisfies the Precautionary Principle which, in MEA's case, means ceasing biogas activities.  

Ignoring the above undermines MEA's credibility in the community and drives Opt Outs. When will MEA cease its landfill-gas-to-energy activities?       

Respectfully,

Jim Phelps
Novato, CA
MEA Opt Out (888) 632-3674
www.MEAtruth.com

cc: Dawn Weisz, MEA Executive Officer