AES’ plans to power up generators moves forward

Tariq Malik

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- Plans to restart two defunct power generators at

the AES Corp. power plant are moving forward, with city officials in

general approval of the project.

The California Energy Commission’s AES siting committee, consisting of

commissioners Arthur Rosenfeld and Robert Pernell and hearing officer

Garret Shean, released a proposal that supports the power plant’s

retooling project. A public discussion on the matter is scheduled for

Monday, with a final decision by the energy commission due April 18.

“It looks as if about 80% of what the city was hoping for has been

included,” said Assistant City Administrator Bill Workman. “I personally

think the energy commission has done an excellent job in making the best

of a difficult situation.”

AES officials are planning to resurrect two power generators,

mothballed in 1995 by previous plant owner Southern California Edison

Co., in order to build up the state’s energy supply this summer and

relieve the ongoing crisis.

The generators, units No. 3 and No. 4, would add about 450 megawatts

to the plant’s energy production, almost doubling it, which would be

enough to power 450,000 homes. Existing generators No. 1 and No. 2

produce about 430 megawatts, with a peaker unit adding an additional 133

megawatts.

“There were obviously a lot of issues that were resolved for this

proposal,” said Ed Blackford, plant president and site manager, adding

that only a few points of theproposal have drawn contentions.

The state committee’s proposed decision would put a limited, five-year

certification for the retooling and use of units No. 3 and No. 4, as well

as air quality requirements for both the generators and a smaller peaker

unit used in maximum demand times. It also would require AES to set aside

$1.5 million to study whether the plant plays a role in causing ocean

pollution or affecting local wildlife.

Councilman Ralph Bauer said the state commission seemed to be

sympathetic to the city’s concerns with the project.

“You can never get all the things you want,” he said of the

cooperative process. “But I think the five-year permit is frankly a

pretty good deal for the city.”

It allows a time down the road, he added, for AES to revisit the

Huntington Beach plant and consider replacing the hulking generators with

a smaller, modernized installation.

While AES officials oppose the five-year limit, as well as

restrictions on the use of the peaker units, they say the public

workshops and local hearings held by the energy commissioners were

helpful and fair.

With a current power crunch in full swing across the state, commission

staff has pushed to speed up the AES certification process from an

initial 12-month schedule in February to as little as 60 days. AES

officials said the process has been difficult, but if the project wins

ultimate approval, electricity could ebb from No. 3 and No. 4 by this

summer.

The speedy nature of the project has some people concerned, especially

with a study underway to determine whether the plant’s cooling system

played a role in the 1999 beach closures.

“My biggest concern is that they’ve taken a process that generally

takes about a year, and jammed it into 60 days,” said resident Dave

Guido, who lives near the plant and is president of the Huntington

Coastal Communities Assn.

“I think the improvements, like landscaping and air quality, are

great, but it all boils down to how fast they can get that tinker toy up

and running.”

FYI: A committee conference is scheduled for 10 a.m. Monday in the

council chambers of City Hall at 2000 Main St. The public is encouraged

to participate and comment on the issue. More information on the

retooling project can be found by calling the energy commission at (800)

822-6228 or by e-mail ato7 [email protected] .

To learn more about the project, visit o7

https://www.energy.ca.gov/siting/huntingtonbeachf7 .