Is Grand Terrace Green or Yellow or Milk Toast?

Unlike Colton and the City of Riverside or LA... we are subjected to some of the highest energy prices. The City and SCE has done little to educate the public in Grand Terrace about home PV Cells that feed power back into the Grid. (Running the Meter Back)

This program is or should be available to all SCE Service areas as it is a State required program.

The City has taken the past view, that Solar Pannels, and Wind Mills are UGLY and will reduce the "Look" of the Community... They wanted to pretend we all had boat loads of money to pay what ever the SEC wanted to charge for power. Now we have learned that the Council Members in their big homes have a limit to the size of their boats as their Air Conditioning in summer ran their bills up to over 700.00 for one month.

I am looking at a solar powered air conditioner... and PV Cells that are on like a patio cover rather than a roof install.

I am in support of a Requirement that any new Government Built or RDA FUNDED or Assisted Development should have maximum PV Power System as part of its design. Also these public funded or supported buildings should have a Water Catchment system for irrigation.

The City should get off its high horse about trying to look like Laguna Beach in the 80's and recognize Laguna Beach in 2007 includes Solar Power and Water Cisterns for homes and apartments.

Waterless toilets/Composting Toilets, PV Power, and LEV/NEV's should all be included in the Code and Planning. INCLUDING reducing the speed limit on Barton RD to 35mph Max.. and Mt. Vernon Too. Alternative Building Methods such as Straw/Cement Houses should also be encouraged by code and community.

Did any one mention that where Barton Rd and La Cadena are the Speed limit is 35mph in the City of Colton, up to the Freeway and it is not till you get to GT that it goes to 45 mph on Barton Rd. Having this speed limit on Barton Rd and Mt. Vernon precludes the use of LEV's in GT, as you can't cross town to get your shopping and errands done.

In addition, the 45 mph was orrignally there because the roads were to be used by military convoy. They needed to run up MT Vernon at full speed in order to make it up the grade. In addition at that time there were no stop lights or signs except at the corner of Barton Rd and Mt. Vernon Ave. All other corners were regulated by the rule what road is biggest has the right of way. With the stops every block the fuel use starting and stopping is less efficient and causes more pollution. Worse yet is that the NEED to Tromp down on the gas to get up to speed of 45 mph or more... causes more pollution, and less energy efficient. I have brought this to the attention of members of the City Staff, and they even consulted with the Traffic Engineer. The reply was, we don't think we want a bunch of LEV's Running where the house prices should be ever increasing, and flashing affluance of cars and endless fuel use and speed. It is part of the Affluance Illusion they want to maintain.

The Council and City Staff, apparently don't get the point of the fuel economy, safety issues, and the desireability of encouraging LEV's being used in GT.

An LEV Centered town will increase local business, may even add a business to the community as LEV's like cars can be personalized, repaired, sold and resold. Each transaction being a taxable event.

It took 4 years for them to even bring the topic to the council... finding time to give lip service to the idea. But, the NEED for SPEED won out... flawed logic, and misrepresentation were used by the Traffic Engineer to push the let speed in GT Rule over Economics, and Ecology, and Fuel Independence.

We live where there is less than 15 inches of rain Expected. We should start living like we know that. We should also look for ways to reduce our commute distance to work, and pollution generating energy use.

I am on my soap box again arn't I.
Perhaps I should change my nickname from GrandpaTerrace to the Fool on the Hill...