Politics & Government

Waxman Asks CEC to Deny AES Application to Repower

Rep. Henry Waxman asks the California Energy Commission to deny the application to repower AES Redondo Beach.

Unless the energy that would be produced by a rebuilt AES Redondo Beach Generating Station is absolutely necessary, the California Energy Commission should deny the AES application to rebuild the aging power plant on Harbor Drive, according to Rep. Henry Waxman.

The current power plant must cease operation by 2020 due to state regulations on once-through cooling, where ocean water is pumped into the plant to cool the superheated steam that spins the turbines. At the end of August, the CEC deemed AES application to build a new, 496-megawatt power plant to replace the old one "data adequate," officially beginning the application process.

Waxman, who represents Redondo Beach as part of his 33rd district, submitted a letter to the CEC, urging the commission to reject AES' application and help the city work on a plan for site redevelopment.

Find out what's happening in Redondo Beachwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"I have long believed we should take this opportunity to retire the power plant in Redondo Beach if it is feasible to do so," Waxman wrote. "Local leaders and residents correctly recognize that there is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for redevelopment of this large property adjacent to the waterfront."

Waxman also notes that an independent power flow analysis commissioned by the city of Redondo Beach and conducted by Advanced Energy Solutions found that a new AES Redondo Beach power plant would not be required for grid reliability.

Find out what's happening in Redondo Beachwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Representatives from the CEC will venture to Redondo Beach on Tuesday for a visit of the site followed by a public hearing.

Related stories:


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here