Letter: Power Plant a Major Polluter

The power plant on Harbor Drive is hazardous to the health of Redondo Beach residents, writes Richard Lontia.

Some little known facts about the power plant are: So think about a power plant that was built on the ocean front years ago but where the population density has grown to over 13,000 residents per square mile, can add up to 78,500 cars worth of pollution, and provides power to an electrical grid that doesn't need it. Really a bad idea whose time has passed. Richard Lontia Redondo Beach Letters to the editor do not necessarily reflect the views of Redondo Beach Patch. Letters must be less than 500 words and are subject to editing for space, spelling, punctuation and grammar. Also, anonymous letters will not be published, so remember to include your real name. You can email your letter to Redondo Beach Patch editor Nicole Mooradian at nicole.…

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Wolfman

12:16 am on Sunday, May 13, 2012

Save the beach area community for our kids No New Power Plant   more ›

Reserves Protect Iconic Surf Spots

Save the Waves Coalition's Katie Westfall talks about the importance of surfing reserves and the protection of globally iconic surf spots.

Editor's Note: This article was originally published on Imperial Beach Patch. The author, Serge Dedina, is a member of the World Surfing Reserve Vision Council. One of the most innovative tools in the conservation of surf spots has been the development of surfing reserves. Pioneered by Brad Farmer in Australia, the Davenport-based Save the Waves Coalition has taken the lead on organizing the development of a global network of World Surfing Reserves. Katie Westfall, Save the Waves' environmental and program director, talks to Patch about the protection of globally iconic surf spots: Serge Dedina: Why do surfing areas need to be designated as surfing reserves? Katie Westfall: Natural surf breaks are important public recreational resources. …

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Recipes: Healthy Homemade Chorizo and Nachos

'Biggest Loser' cookbook chef/author Devin Alexander shares two special, tasty recipes for Cinco de Mayo.

Homemade Chorizo This sausage can be used in many different ways. You can shape it into links or patties, or crumble it. Trust me, you’ll enjoy it—and your body will enjoy it much more than eating the traditional version, which is often made from some of the fattiest (not to mention least appealing) parts of the pig and can contain upwards of 28 grams of fat! Ingredients: 1/4 cup + 1 tablespoon old-fashioned oats 1/4 cup red wine vinegar 2 tablespoons all-natural egg substitute 1/4 cup chili powder 2 teaspoons freshly minced garlic 1 teaspoon dried oregano 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 pound extra-lean ground pork Combine the oats, vinegar and egg substitute in a medium bowl. Allow to stand for 3 minutes, or until the oats begin to soften. Add the …

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Brand: Power Plant Is South Bay Issue

Whether AES Redondo Beach is permanently retired depends on united opposition in the South Bay, Redondo Beach City Councilman Bill Brand argues.

Editor's note: This opinion piece was also submitted to the Beach Reporter and Easy Reader newspapers. In all the discussions about whether we want a new power plant on our coast, it’s important to remember that other communities have fought the exact same battle the South Bay is facing now—and won! They are remaking their waterfronts without a polluting behemoth dominating their skyline and degrading the air they breathe. Why can’t we accomplish the same thing? AES themselves have calculated and reported to us that particulate pollution will double with a new plant, and of course, those are very conservative estimates.  More accurate estimates show it quadrupling, from five tons to 20 tons per year—which is about what their Huntington …

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Gerry O'Connor

1:43 pm on Thursday, May 10, 2012

If only this local issue was of as critical national importance as how to interpret the U.S. Constitution, and the anonymous contributions here rose to the level of political science exhibited by, say, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison or John Jay ... then, and only then, would the above analogy *perhaps* be applicable. Meanwhile, such an obviously off-target suggestion only further validates the…   more ›

Pendergraft: AES Redondo Essential to Plans for Renewable Power

Repowering the aging plant would be a "win-win-win" situation for AES, the community and the city of Redondo Beach, says AES Southland President Eric Pendergraft.

A rebuilt AES Redondo Beach is necessary to provide electricity when the sun isn't shining or the wind isn't blowing, AES Southland President Eric Pendergraft writes in a recent opinion piece in the Easy Reader. The current plant, which uses ocean water to cool the superheated steam that spins the turbines in a process known as once-through cooling, must be retired by 2020 in accordance with state regulations. Pendergraft and other AES officials believe that a rebuilt plant would be quieter, more efficient and run cleaner; opponents argue that the new plant would run more often (and release more pollutants), continue to depress property values and remain what they call a blighting influence on the waterfront. Opponents also say the plant …

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Letters: Councilman Should Recuse Himself From AES Issue

Two residents argue that Councilman Steve Diels should recuse himself from debates regarding AES because the company contributed to his campaign and a park in his district.

Is there a conflict of interest on the Redondo Beach City Council regarding the AES repowering debate? A debate whose outcome—denial of a future AES Redondo Beach operating license—seems so obvious to even the most casual observer. Councilman Steven Diels was the only councilman to oppose directing staff to draft a resolution opposing AES repowering. He says the resolution will “complicate” things—huh? He also parrots the words of AES in saying it is too soon for the city to oppose AES repowering even though AES has filed plans with the state, has presented plans to the City Council and publicly stated their intent to apply for a new license in June. Could Councilman Diels' objectivity and impartiality, in a historically important decision…

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Wolfman

8:10 am on Monday, May 14, 2012

The majority of the Redondo Beach residents have spoken. No More Power Plant   more ›

Letter: Council Should Vote to Oppose Plant

The Redondo Beach City Council should vote to oppose a repowering of AES Redondo Beach whether a citizen's initiative moves forward, writes Grant Patterson.

Dear Editor, I don't understand both Councilmen Steve Aspel and Pat Aust's statement last Tuesday night that they will only support a resolution opposing AES' plan to repower its Redondo Beach plant if residents stop taking a parallel path via initiative. Gentlemen, if this is your attempt to show leadership, you are making us very nervous! In California, this is our right as citizens when government fails to represent constituents. I'm extremely uncomfortable with what he is asking of Building a Better Redondo. BBR is assisting NoPowerPlant, which is a resident group with thousands of local voices. This is a very manipulative and unethical stunt. As Ronald Reagan famously stated, "Trust but verify." What right will residents then have …

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Letter: Attend Council Workshop on Power Plant

Residents of both Redondo and Hermosa beaches should plan to attend Tuesday's Redondo Beach City Council workshop on AES Redondo Beach, Christine Wike says.

City studies show that the AES Redondo power plant has a negative impact on harbor area businesses, property values, views, the environment and resident health. The proposed 80-foot high power plant with 120-foot high smokestacks will be hard to miss from most Hermosa Beach and Redondo Beach locations. AES has been cleverly deceptive by refusing to publish predicted pollution numbers. However, we can get an idea by looking at the new El Segundo plant currently under construction. The average family car engine produces less than 1/2 pound of particulate per year. The current plant running at less than 5 percent capacity puts out over 10,000 pounds. To recoup their planned investment, a new AES Redondo plant would run more often, producing …

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Didlo: 'Best Path Forward' Is to Rebuild Power Plant

AES Southland Development Project Director Jennifer Didlo explains why repowering AES Redondo Beach is the best solution for the harbor.