Environmental groups waged a surprise protest on March 20 during the California Public Utilities Commission’s stakeholder meeting at Scripps Institution of Oceanography. The protestors, including representatives from the Environmental Health Coalition, The Sierra Club, SanDiego350.org and Save Mission Trails, asked the commission to deny the proposal to enter into contracts with two new fossil fuel power plants, Pio Pico and Quail Brush, by chanting and marching in front of where the closed-door meeting was taking place, while law enforcement and Scripps personnel looked on. The next day, the commission voted against the power plants, earning commendations from environmentalists. Photos by Don Balch