Letter: Power Plant Shutdown Would Bring 'Brighter Future'

Editor's note: The following is an open letter to Redondo Beach Mayor Mike Gin and the rest of the city council.

Dear Mayor and City Council,

I am a Redondo Beach resident. I want to make it perfectly clear to you that I strongly oppose construction of another power plant in Redondo Beach. This is an issue that I have felt very strongly about for over a decade. In 2002, I ran for Redondo City Council on a single issue—total elimination of power generation in Redondo Beach.

• Complete coverage: AES Redondo Beach Power Plant Debate

Since then my position has not changed. I'm supporting complete elimination of industrial zoning on the AES site. For over 10 years, an overwhelming majority of South Bay residents that I have spoke with want an end to the . It does not take a huge mental leap to see why. The AES site is a huge industrial wasteland. The AES power plant is an air polluter, a noise polluter and a light polluter. The California Energy Commission has deemed the power plant  non-essential. The eventual end to industrial uses on our waterfront will have enormous benefits to our community and our property values. These positive benefits will far outweigh the pittance in revenues AES returns to the city. You cannot convince me otherwise.

I fully understand that there will be a phasing-out period of the power plant, but the residents, hoteliers and harbor leaseholders will all be able to look toward a brighter future knowing that the power plant will be shuttered.

This is our opportunity to have an hand in and make a historic positive change in our quality of life. Let's seize this opportunity and have unified voice that benefits every South Bay resident.

Again, I oppose construction of another power plant in Redondo Beach.

Paul Moses
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 Also, anonymous letters will not be published, so remember to include your real name.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.mooradian@patch.com.