West Covina : Consultant to Be Hired

The City Council has allocated $5,000 to join with several other cities in hiring AeroVironment Inc. of Monrovia, an engineering consulting firm, to analyze technical data on a waste-to-energy plant proposed in Irwindale. Other cities that have either agreed to hire the engineering firm or are considering it are Baldwin Park, Claremont, Covina, Duarte, Glendora, Monrovia and San Dimas.

Organizers of the Irwindale project, which would burn 3,000 tons of trash a day to create electrical energy, are seeking permits from the California Energy Commission and the federal Environmental Protection Agency. Neighboring cities, including West Covina, have gone on record against the project on grounds that it could add to the area’s air pollution.

AeroVironment will help the cities analyze air emission estimates and other technical data submitted by the applicant to the regulatory agencies.