Why Morro Bay’s proposed battery plant is in our current — and future — best interest | Opinion

Morro Bay’s best interest

“ Take a look at proposed battery plant site in Morro Bay CA ,” (sanluisobispo.com, April 30)

The Tribune has published several articles detailing the proposed development of the old Morro Bay Power Plant site by its owner, Vistra Energy. The property is extremely valuable, and decisions about its future could transform this region for us and future generations. Our responsibility to get this right is huge.

California has an abundance of solar energy, managed and delivered to consumers by battery storage which enables it to be collected when it is produced and used when it is needed. The proposed battery storage site is directly adjacent to grid access. Increasing access to clean energy by using existing infrastructure will save ratepayers millions of dollars.

The battery plant itself will bring a much-needed boost to our local economy and an estimated $10 million per year in local taxes. Our budget forecast indicates that Morro Bay will be operating with a significant budget shortfall within two years. Additional revenue provided by this clean-energy business as well as improvements made to the property as a whole will help fulfill Morro Bay’s potential as a pristine, recreation-friendly asset for ourselves and for visitors.

Carol Swain

Morro Bay

Good news for the environment

“ California lawmakers say marine sanctuary shouldn’t be shrunk to cater to offshore wind ,” (sanluisobispo.com, Feb. 26)

With the agreement by the Northern Chumash Tribal Council and three Morro Bay offshore wind leaseholders, the Chumash Heritage National Marine Sanctuary can become a reality in our ocean waters off of San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara Counties. As with the West Coast’s five other National Marine Sanctuaries, this will provide extensive protection for marine mammals, seabirds, shorebirds and ocean fish, along with Chumash cultural and historic sites.

The Tribal Council also agreed that the Marine Sanctuary would be expanded after the completion of offshore wind energy development. Given the urgent need to reduce our carbon emissions, this is an environmental win for all of us.

Offshore wind projects, with oversight and safeguards, are one such step. Sometimes we forget that the countless threats we face from increased land temperatures are matched by threats to marine life from rising ocean temperatures. The Northern Chumash Tribal Council has taken a giant step forward for the ocean community with this two-phase approach to California’s newest National Marine Sanctuary.

Jim Wright

San Luis Obispo

Inside look

“ See Diablo Canyon nuclear power plant during refueling ,” (sanluisobispo.com, April 27)

Thank you for publishing such an informative inside look at Diablo Canyon during its routine refueling outage. I was fortunate to tour the plant with students from the Cal Poly Women in Physics club in 2016, and The Tribune’s photos and video reminded me what an amazing resource we are lucky to have in our county.

The straight facts and clear-eyed reporting about the plant and the refueling process are exactly what our community needs. We should all celebrate the fact that we are host to California’s single largest source of low-carbon electricity. I look forward to reading more stories that highlight the benefits this plant provides to our local community, our state and even the world, as it provides reliable, clean electricity.

Jennifer Klay

San Luis Obispo

Green Party gets real about Gaza

“ Pro Palestine protesters hold die-in at Cal Poly SLO ,” (sanluisobispo.com, April 1)

Regarding your recent article on protests at California universities where students are calling for their campuses to divest from companies doing business with Israel: It may be time for the students to ‘divest’ from both the Democratic and Republican parties supporting Israel’s genocide.

For those of us who find reprehensible the billions of tax payer dollars funding genocide and simultaneously call for an immediate end to the invasion and occupation of Gaza, neither of the two major political parties deserve our support.

The Green Party’s presidential candidate, Jill Stein, demands withdrawing military aid to the extremists ruling Israel, an immediate ceasefire and sending real aid to those suffering in Gaza.

Peggy Koteen

San Luis Obispo

Use your brain

“ Can AI chatbot ChatGPT write article about happiness? ” (sanluisobispo.com, May 8, 2023)

The introduction of artificial intelligence (AI) into our midst is not happening any time too soon, for it is beginning to be obvious that the level of natural intelligence in our citizenry has sunk to a historic low.

We are on the verge of a critical presidential election with the potential of moving America back into Medieval times. One candidate has a proven CV in civic responsibility. He has demonstrated the possession of a modest but functional brain — and, equally important, a heart.

The other has unabashedly demonstrated over and over again that he has very little brain — and no heart whatsoever. He barely survived an earlier election by resorting to fifth-grade-level schoolyard tactics. Despite this, he manages to capture the support of half our electorate.

While the possible imminent debate between these two rivals looks worryingly like a mental Special Olympics, there is absolutely no doubt who should get the gold. Don’t forget that you are one of the judges.

Gene Strohl

San Luis Obispo