AES, the Virginia-based private energy company that owns the aging power plant on Harbor Drive, plans to submit its application in September to repower , project manager Jennifer Didlo of AES Southland told the Daily Breeze.
The company had previously indicated that it planned to file its application to repower by June of 2012, then changed it to mid-August. Didlo told the Breeze that AES decided to file its application later after filing the plan to rebuild AES Huntington Beach.
AES must either rebuild its Redondo Beach power plant, retrofit it or apply for an exemption to new state once-through cooling regulations by 2020. Once-through cooling plants use ocean water to cool the superheated steam that spins the turbines to produce electricity. The water is then pumped back into the ocean.
AES has indicated that it plans to demolish the existing power plant and build a new, smaller on in its place; however, the company's plans have been met with staunch opposition from residents. While AES claims the new power plant would run "cleaner" more efficiently and provide much-needed flexibility to the power grid, opponents contend that it will run more often and emit more pollutants, as well as depress property values.
Members of the No Power Plant and Building a Better Redondo groups are currently circulating a petition to put an anti-power plant initiative on the March ballot. The initiative, which was co-authored by power plant opponent Councilman Bill Brand, whose Second District includes the AES property, calls for rezoning the property at 1100 N. Harbor Drive to allow up to 40 percent of the property to be used for a mix of commercial and institutional use. The remaining 60 percent would be zoned parkland with power generation deemed an incompatible use.
- Full story: AES to Submit Redondo Beach Power Plant Application by End of September [Daily Breeze]
The desire to remove existing development along coastal area is a "pipe dream"! We should focus on how to improve what we have.
A market driven economy need not include polluting the air Redondo Beach citizens breathe. Let AES do whatever they want with the property that does not include blackening my families lungs. Responsible operator? Have you seen how ugly that plant is. Have you heard the noise violations? Are you aware of how they tried to rip us off with fake shut downs? Working with AES = A new power plant and increased odds of getting sick for RB citizens. By the way "get real" sounds like a Virginia expression?
Lung Association Board Chair Dr. Albert Rizzo, M.D., warns, “Particle pollution kills – the science is clear, and overwhelming evidence shows that particle pollution at levels currently labeled as officially ‘safe’ causes heart attacks, strokes, and asthma attacks.” http://www.lung.org/about-us/our-impact/top-stories/new-standards-bring-cleaner-air.html The Children's Health Study, which began in 1992, is a large, long-term, study of the effects of chronic air pollution exposures on the health of children living in Southern California. Children may be more strongly affected by air pollution because their lungs and their bodies are still developing. Children are also exposed to more air pollution than adults since they breathe faster and spend more time outdoors in strenuous activities. http://www.arb.ca.gov/research/chs/chs.htm The results of this study indicate that current levels of air pollution have chronic, adverse effects on lung development in children from the age of 10 to 18 years, leading to clinically significant deficits in attained FEV1 as children reach adulthood. http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa040610 “These new studies underscore the need to eliminate the threat from California’s air.” http://www.arb.ca.gov/newsrel/newsrelease.php?id=268
AES has already engaged developers on what to do with the portions of their property freed up by their proposed plant. Once the land is rezoned by the initiative they can develop their land in accordance with the new zoning, they can lease the land for someone else to to develop it, or they can sell it for someone else to develop. This is no different than what any of us can do with our property ... We all must comform with the zoning of our property. In 1992 the city rezoned across residential, commercial, and industrial property. An example... The Catalina Coffee Company is on property that was rezoned to residential in 1992. Now they cannot expand. It's not taking someones property rights, it is not taking their property away. It's something city's do everyday. And Redondo is no stranger to it. Far from a pipe dream... We are going to get this one done!
By AES' own numbers, they run at less than 5% of capacity. The power goes inland to the 405 before it hits the grid. So Redondo does not get power from the plant in our town and e grid rarely sees power from this plant. In fact all SCE rate payers get hit with the bill for this plant to sit idle waiting to come online. POur bills should be reduced of we get rid of the plant.