For Immediate Release: April 26th, 2011
COALITION OF LOCAL CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENTS AND CONCERNED CITIZEN GROUPS FILE FORMAL PROTEST WITH THE CPUC:
LOCAL JURISDICTIONS OPPOSE AND CHALLENGE THE INADEQUATE AND COSTLY PG&E SMART METER OPT-OUT PROPOSAL
Yesterday the Town of Fairfax and the Alliance for Human and Environmental Health, a west Marin coalition, filed a formal protest with the CPUC, challenging PG&E’s opt-out plan for Smart Meters. This morning, the Marin County Board of Supervisors voted to formally join the Protest.
The Protest urges the CPUC to challenge the PG&E opt-out proposal based on legal, fiscal, and technology grounds. The Protest includes Ordinances and Resolutions of four California Counties and seven Cities and Towns in PG&E service territory, all of which have called for moratoriums of this program until impacts on public health, data privacy, law enforcement, and community concerns are evaluated.
Marin Supervisor Steve Kinsey of Marin County stated,
“The road to energy efficiency doesn't need to ignore the concerns of local communities. This petition really boils down to ‘One size does not fit all in California”. We can achieve Smart Meter benefits without imposing PG&E's singular approach.”
The Protest urges the CPUC to honor the legal authority of local governments, abide by local Ordinances, and work out an economically viable, regional alternative to the PG&E proposal.
“PG&E's Smart Meter program will not conserve electricity or give consumers the information they need to better manage their electrical usage. On the other hand, the program's time of use billing and data collection capabilities will raise rates and generate increased profits for the utility and its shareholders. PG&E's opt out proposal will also effectively discriminate against consumers who would prefer to opt out for health or other reasons.” Said Larry Bragman, Mayor of Fairfax.
Echoing those concerns, was Barry A. Smith, Executive Director of Alliance for Human and Environmental Health, a west Marin coalition:
"Constituents and consumers have the right of a strong democratic choice in a program that has such widespread cost, privacy, security, and health concerns. We encourage the CPUC to enact a viable opt-out plan to Smart Meter installation that is reasonable and effective. The plan needs to enable local governments to exercise a community-wide opt-out that is consistent with their already passed Ordinances.”
The group seeks to correct cost, scope, and equity deficiencies in the PG&E plan. The Protest was filed by Attorney Jim Tobin, who stated:
“This Protest urges the CPUC (1) to establish an opt-out program that recognizes the right of local government bodies to exercise such an opt-out on behalf of their constituents pursuant to their legal authority; (2) to immediately order PG&E to comply with validly adopted ordinances and resolutions prohibiting further Smart Meter installations pending a CPUC decision in this case; and (3) to investigate and correct the overstated costs PG&E claims should be paid for opting out and establishing reasonable means of meter data reporting for customers that have opted out individually or collectively.”
Other formal Protests challenging the PG&E opt-out proposal have been filed by Mendocino County, Lake County, the CPUC’s Division of Ratepayer Advocates, EMF Safety Network, and TURN. In addition, UCAN, a San Diego based consumer interest group, has asked that the CPUC also require San Diego Gas and Electric to adopt an opt-out plan. AB 37, legislation pending in the California legislature, would require similar plans statewide.
Contact:
· Steve Kinsey, Marin County Supervisor, (415) 499-7331, skinsey@co.marin.ca.us
· Larry Bragman, Mayor of Fairfax, bragman@msn.com
· Barry A. Smith, Alliance for Human and Environmental Health, (415) 663-8025, bsmith@allianceheh.org
· Jim Tobin, Tobin Law Group (415) 732-1700, jim@tobinlaw.us
For Immediate Release: February 18th, 2011
PG&E SMART METERS FOUR TIMES MORE POWERFUL THAN ORIGINALLY PREDICTED: FCC safety limit violations possible in homes
Marin County – A new study shows that PG&E smart meter RF emissions are significantly more powerful than previously thought, potentially causing more living space to exceed FCC public safety standards.
Sage Associates is releasing results of a new study that predict significantly higher radiofrequency radiation levels and FCC public safety limit violations in some PG&E smart meters. It will be published on-line Friday, February 18th as an addendum to “Assessment of Radiofrequency Microwave Radiation Emissions from Smart Meters” http://sagereports.com/smart-meter-rf/.
The latest study radiofrequency radiation emissions for a PG&E smart meter (Silver Springs OWS-NIC514) will be 4.87 times stronger than the ITRON meter used in the CCST report. Originally, Sage Associates modeled the ITRON SKAMI-4 meter, which showed FCC violations were possible within 6 inches of the meter. This latest computer modeling report indicates that policy makers should ask for full information on all types of smart meters being deployed across California, since there be may be substantial differences in potential health risks and impacts to private property.
“PG&E is misleading the public with false assurances of safety. Smart Meter radiation will be a permanent part of the home, and people have no idea how high their chronic RF exposure might be. In reality, each Smart Meter functions like a cell antenna, relaying signals from other meters, and adds significantly to the existing radiation exposure already in the environment”, according to Barry A. Smith of the Environmental Health Coalition of West Marin.
“The emissions from one meter are strong enough that the public is put at risk from exposures outward from the meter from approximately one foot to over six feet, depending on the reflection factor,” says Cindy Sage, Sage Associates. “For multiple meters at the same location, the zone of impact where FCC limits may be violated is somewhere between three feet and 19 feet, depending on the reflection factor.”
In all meters studied to date, Sage Associates reported “excessively elevated radiofrequency/microwave radiation levels are likely to occur within occupied space of single family homes and multi-family dwellings. Scientific studies report risks for cancer, neurological diseases and cardiac problems at levels at and below those produced by smart meters. California’s leaders should be concerned that the smart meter wireless rollout may cost dearly in terms of health risks and high economic costs to consumers, with very little energy savings to show for it”.
Contact:
Barry A. Smith Co-Director Environmental Health Coalition of West Marin
(415) 663-8025 bsmith@environmentalhealthcoalition.org
COALITION OF LOCAL CALIFORNIA GOVERNMENTS AND CONCERNED CITIZEN GROUPS FILE FORMAL PROTEST WITH THE CPUC:
LOCAL JURISDICTIONS OPPOSE AND CHALLENGE THE INADEQUATE AND COSTLY PG&E SMART METER OPT-OUT PROPOSAL
Yesterday the Town of Fairfax and the Alliance for Human and Environmental Health, a west Marin coalition, filed a formal protest with the CPUC, challenging PG&E’s opt-out plan for Smart Meters. This morning, the Marin County Board of Supervisors voted to formally join the Protest.
The Protest urges the CPUC to challenge the PG&E opt-out proposal based on legal, fiscal, and technology grounds. The Protest includes Ordinances and Resolutions of four California Counties and seven Cities and Towns in PG&E service territory, all of which have called for moratoriums of this program until impacts on public health, data privacy, law enforcement, and community concerns are evaluated.
Marin Supervisor Steve Kinsey of Marin County stated,
“The road to energy efficiency doesn't need to ignore the concerns of local communities. This petition really boils down to ‘One size does not fit all in California”. We can achieve Smart Meter benefits without imposing PG&E's singular approach.”
The Protest urges the CPUC to honor the legal authority of local governments, abide by local Ordinances, and work out an economically viable, regional alternative to the PG&E proposal.
“PG&E's Smart Meter program will not conserve electricity or give consumers the information they need to better manage their electrical usage. On the other hand, the program's time of use billing and data collection capabilities will raise rates and generate increased profits for the utility and its shareholders. PG&E's opt out proposal will also effectively discriminate against consumers who would prefer to opt out for health or other reasons.” Said Larry Bragman, Mayor of Fairfax.
Echoing those concerns, was Barry A. Smith, Executive Director of Alliance for Human and Environmental Health, a west Marin coalition:
"Constituents and consumers have the right of a strong democratic choice in a program that has such widespread cost, privacy, security, and health concerns. We encourage the CPUC to enact a viable opt-out plan to Smart Meter installation that is reasonable and effective. The plan needs to enable local governments to exercise a community-wide opt-out that is consistent with their already passed Ordinances.”
The group seeks to correct cost, scope, and equity deficiencies in the PG&E plan. The Protest was filed by Attorney Jim Tobin, who stated:
“This Protest urges the CPUC (1) to establish an opt-out program that recognizes the right of local government bodies to exercise such an opt-out on behalf of their constituents pursuant to their legal authority; (2) to immediately order PG&E to comply with validly adopted ordinances and resolutions prohibiting further Smart Meter installations pending a CPUC decision in this case; and (3) to investigate and correct the overstated costs PG&E claims should be paid for opting out and establishing reasonable means of meter data reporting for customers that have opted out individually or collectively.”
Other formal Protests challenging the PG&E opt-out proposal have been filed by Mendocino County, Lake County, the CPUC’s Division of Ratepayer Advocates, EMF Safety Network, and TURN. In addition, UCAN, a San Diego based consumer interest group, has asked that the CPUC also require San Diego Gas and Electric to adopt an opt-out plan. AB 37, legislation pending in the California legislature, would require similar plans statewide.
Contact:
· Steve Kinsey, Marin County Supervisor, (415) 499-7331, skinsey@co.marin.ca.us
· Larry Bragman, Mayor of Fairfax, bragman@msn.com
· Barry A. Smith, Alliance for Human and Environmental Health, (415) 663-8025, bsmith@allianceheh.org
· Jim Tobin, Tobin Law Group (415) 732-1700, jim@tobinlaw.us
For Immediate Release: February 18th, 2011
PG&E SMART METERS FOUR TIMES MORE POWERFUL THAN ORIGINALLY PREDICTED: FCC safety limit violations possible in homes
Marin County – A new study shows that PG&E smart meter RF emissions are significantly more powerful than previously thought, potentially causing more living space to exceed FCC public safety standards.
Sage Associates is releasing results of a new study that predict significantly higher radiofrequency radiation levels and FCC public safety limit violations in some PG&E smart meters. It will be published on-line Friday, February 18th as an addendum to “Assessment of Radiofrequency Microwave Radiation Emissions from Smart Meters” http://sagereports.com/smart-meter-rf/.
The latest study radiofrequency radiation emissions for a PG&E smart meter (Silver Springs OWS-NIC514) will be 4.87 times stronger than the ITRON meter used in the CCST report. Originally, Sage Associates modeled the ITRON SKAMI-4 meter, which showed FCC violations were possible within 6 inches of the meter. This latest computer modeling report indicates that policy makers should ask for full information on all types of smart meters being deployed across California, since there be may be substantial differences in potential health risks and impacts to private property.
“PG&E is misleading the public with false assurances of safety. Smart Meter radiation will be a permanent part of the home, and people have no idea how high their chronic RF exposure might be. In reality, each Smart Meter functions like a cell antenna, relaying signals from other meters, and adds significantly to the existing radiation exposure already in the environment”, according to Barry A. Smith of the Environmental Health Coalition of West Marin.
“The emissions from one meter are strong enough that the public is put at risk from exposures outward from the meter from approximately one foot to over six feet, depending on the reflection factor,” says Cindy Sage, Sage Associates. “For multiple meters at the same location, the zone of impact where FCC limits may be violated is somewhere between three feet and 19 feet, depending on the reflection factor.”
In all meters studied to date, Sage Associates reported “excessively elevated radiofrequency/microwave radiation levels are likely to occur within occupied space of single family homes and multi-family dwellings. Scientific studies report risks for cancer, neurological diseases and cardiac problems at levels at and below those produced by smart meters. California’s leaders should be concerned that the smart meter wireless rollout may cost dearly in terms of health risks and high economic costs to consumers, with very little energy savings to show for it”.
Contact:
Barry A. Smith Co-Director Environmental Health Coalition of West Marin
(415) 663-8025 bsmith@environmentalhealthcoalition.org
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: January 11th, 2011
MORE SMART METER ARRESTS IN ROHNERT PARK WHERE WELLINGTON ENERGY DEPLOYMENT IS BLOCKED THIS MORNING:
"This Time it's Grandmothers Who Don't Want Their Grandchildren Exposed to Constant RF from Smart Meters"
Marin County - This morning in Rohnert Park, Wellington Energy, PG&E's subcontractor who installs Smart Meters all over the Bay Area, was blocked from leaving their
deployment yard by about two dozen angry grandmothers, dads, and just ordinary citizens who are outraged by PG&E's stonewalling their legitimate health and safety concerns about Smart Meter RF.
The Rohnert Park police arrested Deborah Tavares of Sebastopol and Ilona Gallo of Novato around 8am this morning for blocking the trucks carrying the Smart Meters ready for forced deployment.
"People are becoming increasingly angry about their civil liberties being rolled over as the CPUC and PG&E continue to stonewall people's concerns and requests for a Moratorium. Not only is the CPUC clearly a neutered reglulatory agency, but it is actually enabling PG&E to treat it's customers with chronic distain. They recently advertised that distain by arrogantly declaring that they will 'ignore' Marin County's Smart Meter Ordinance." said Katharina Sandizell, co-director of Environmental Health Coalition.
"I am a grandmother of four grandchildren and the mother of two children and I am seeing the radiation effects already, headaches and tinnitus as well as children's behavioral problems. Of great concern is also the loss of privacy and civil liberties that this rollout signifies. I am a native born Californian and I have been married for 39 years and I have never been arrested. I became horrified by this whole Smart Meter roll-out a number of months ago in terms of the loss of freedom and the radiation that it entails." said Deborah Tavares of Sebastopol.
24 independent local governments have demanded a halt to the Smart Meter program. Marin County (unincorporated areas), Santa Cruz County (unincorporated areas), Watsonville, and Fairfax have all passed one year Emergency Ordinances banning the meters.
Contact:
Katharina Sandizell Co-Director, Environmental Health Coalition of West Marin
(415) 663-8025 ksandizell@environmentalhealthcoalition.org
MORE SMART METER ARRESTS IN ROHNERT PARK WHERE WELLINGTON ENERGY DEPLOYMENT IS BLOCKED THIS MORNING:
"This Time it's Grandmothers Who Don't Want Their Grandchildren Exposed to Constant RF from Smart Meters"
Marin County - This morning in Rohnert Park, Wellington Energy, PG&E's subcontractor who installs Smart Meters all over the Bay Area, was blocked from leaving their
deployment yard by about two dozen angry grandmothers, dads, and just ordinary citizens who are outraged by PG&E's stonewalling their legitimate health and safety concerns about Smart Meter RF.
The Rohnert Park police arrested Deborah Tavares of Sebastopol and Ilona Gallo of Novato around 8am this morning for blocking the trucks carrying the Smart Meters ready for forced deployment.
"People are becoming increasingly angry about their civil liberties being rolled over as the CPUC and PG&E continue to stonewall people's concerns and requests for a Moratorium. Not only is the CPUC clearly a neutered reglulatory agency, but it is actually enabling PG&E to treat it's customers with chronic distain. They recently advertised that distain by arrogantly declaring that they will 'ignore' Marin County's Smart Meter Ordinance." said Katharina Sandizell, co-director of Environmental Health Coalition.
"I am a grandmother of four grandchildren and the mother of two children and I am seeing the radiation effects already, headaches and tinnitus as well as children's behavioral problems. Of great concern is also the loss of privacy and civil liberties that this rollout signifies. I am a native born Californian and I have been married for 39 years and I have never been arrested. I became horrified by this whole Smart Meter roll-out a number of months ago in terms of the loss of freedom and the radiation that it entails." said Deborah Tavares of Sebastopol.
24 independent local governments have demanded a halt to the Smart Meter program. Marin County (unincorporated areas), Santa Cruz County (unincorporated areas), Watsonville, and Fairfax have all passed one year Emergency Ordinances banning the meters.
Contact:
Katharina Sandizell Co-Director, Environmental Health Coalition of West Marin
(415) 663-8025 ksandizell@environmentalhealthcoalition.org