5. Ladera Hope's Motion and Comments

Ladera Hope has requested party status in this proceeding. Granting Ladera Hope party status is appropriate in this proceeding. As SDG&E notes in the Petition, the delays regarding the Wellhead peaker which necessitated the Petition are partly because of opposition from Ladera Hope.⁴ Therefore we will grant Ladera Hope the requested party status.

SDG&E objected in its October 16 reply that Ladera Hope's comments are all directed to the Decision and not the Petition, and constitute an untimely challenge to the Decision. SDG&E is correct to the extent that Ladera Hope challenges the Decision.

Ladera Hope's objections are largely related to the environmental impacts of the project. We do not consider those issues when approving a PPA. As noted in the Decision, the Developers had to obtain any permits and undergo any environmental review that is required by the CEC and local authorities.⁵

The peaker project has undergone substantial local environmental review, which has delayed the project to the point where the present modifications were requested, and SDG&E and Wellhead are considering relocation of the project. Ladera Hope has fully and successfully participated in that local environmental review process. Thus, we were correct in noting in the Decision that the local community was adequately protected by the CEC and local authorities.

⁴ Petition, page 11.

⁵ D.07-09-010, pages 12-13.