Calpine/Metcalfe Energy Center and Cisco Development in the Coyote Valley

By Pat Dando

Pat Dando's positions on the proposed Calpine/Metcalfe Energy Center and the Cisco Development in Coyote Valley.

I oppose building the proposed Calpine/Metcalf Energy Center in the Coyote Valley, because it is not an appropriate location. The proposed site is too close to residential neighborhoods and at the front entrance to the world-class Coyote Valley Research Park, where the City hopes to attract 50,000 new jobs.

There are no appropriate locations for a power plant in residential areas like Almaden, Blossom Valley and Santa Teresa. However, other more isolated locations in San Jose and Santa Clara County could be appropriate.

The South San Jose area already experiences some of the worst air quality in Northern California. The Calpine Power Plant will only worsen the air quality at this location by contributing significant amounts of new air pollution.

The Calpine Power Plant will require the transporting of ammonia along city streets and freeways. These ammonia trucks are not compatible with neighborhoods, a premiere office park, schools and child care centers that currently exist or are planned near this location.

The fact is a power plant does not have to be built at this location to increase the reliability of energy service or decrease the cost of energy for San Jose residents and businesses. A power plant can be built at many other locations from San Francisco to Monterey, and still supply the power generation needs for San Jose and the region.

The Calpine Power Plant will not prevent power outages for residents in the Almaden, Blossom Valley and Santa Teresa areas. The power outages that we experience are problems with the distribution or transmission of electricity, not the generation of electricity.

According to the San Jose Mercury News [12/17/99], even analysts with the California Energy Commission have suggested that there are better sites, including one near Sunol, that would offer greater separation between neighborhoods and the power plant's pollution. I agree.

Cisco Development in the Coyote Valley

For the past 16 years, I have worked as a senior land use advisor to Mayor Tom McEnery and as your City Councilmember to develop and support policies in the City of San Jose that promote good land use planning, protect the environment and improve the jobs and tax base of the City.

I have been directly involved in San Jose's efforts to attract major technology companies to our City's industrial office parks. These companies create jobs for San Jose residents and generate tax revenue that we use to pay for police officers, firefighters, youth programs, parks, libraries, street paving, and other city services.

San Jose has planned for the building of the Coyote Valley Research Park for 20 years. I support Cisco Systems proposal to build a world-class office development in the Coyote Valley, because the benefits to our local economy are enormous. Cisco will create 19,800 new jobs for our community, and generate $6 million each year for the City of San Jose and $9 million each year for local schools and special districts.

Additionally, Cisco's Campus represents "smart growth," which will minimize traffic congestion. Both light rail and Caltrain will directly serve the Campus. Located at the southern end of the city, the Campus will allow Cisco employees to drive to work in the opposite direction of the normal northbound commute.

Also, I strongly support the triggers in the General Plan that prohibit development in the South Almaden Valley Urban Reserve and Coyote Valley Urban Reserve. The Cisco development will not trigger development in South Almaden.