COUNTYWIDE : Edison Predicts Less Air Pollution

Southern California Edison announced Friday that it anticipates greater long-term reductions in air pollution than originally projected under an agreement with Ventura County’s Air Pollution Control District.

In a contract signed with the county in June, Edison agreed to spend at least $11 million to offset the hundreds of tons of pollutants it would add to the county air if Edison is allowed to merge with San Diego Gas & Electric.

Under the merger, Edison would increase the electrical load and thus increase pollution at its two power plants in Oxnard. Although projections show hundreds of tons of extra nitrogen oxides every year, Edison agreed to take steps to offset these increases and reduce other pollutants over the long run. Nitrogen oxides react with another gas in sunlight to create ozone, a major component of smog.

Edison would install some minor smog controls at its Mandalay Bay power plant and would pay other companies to trade their polluting diesel and gas engines for clean electric motors. Most of these engines are used in oil fields.

Earlier, Edison calculated that over 17 years it would eliminate 1.45 tons of nitrogen oxides for every extra ton caused by the merger. In its announcement, Edison said its agreement will actually reduce 1.71 tons for every extra ton of nitrogen oxide brought about by the merger.

Edison and county air pollution officials were unavailable for comment on the written statement late Friday. But the announcement was immediately criticized by Russ Baggerly of the Environmental Coalition of Ventura County.

“I’m not surprised that Edison could recalculate the whole thing and have it come out in their favor,” Baggerly said. “I do not trust Edison, because I have watched them in action for years. If this was not so damn serious, it would be comical. But people’s lives are at stake here because air pollution kills.”