Plan Doesn’t Clear Air

* I was disappointed to read that Arden Realty and others have chosen to supply many of their commercial properties with on-site electrical generation equipment as an “added perk” of cheaper electricity for their office tenants [“Landlords Teaming Up with Power Companies,” Nov. 14].

Unfortunately most of the equipment being tested by Arden Realty, including micro-turbines and natural gas-burning engines, releases large amounts of carbon dioxide and other environmentally unfriendly gases as a byproduct of their combustion of fossil and carbon-based fuels.

Ironically, Arden President Victor J. Coleman comments that one of his goals is “to reduce the environmental impact of ‘dirty’ electrical generation,” even though Arden’s individual electrical- generation plants would be installed directly on site, potentially at least one at every property.

Arden owns 142 properties, many in the downtown area, and the combined effect of operating so many individual carbon-dioxide-releasing power plants in the city would have a serious effect on the rest of the population, who couldn’t benefit from the perk of competitively cheaper office electricity for a select few.

One would hope that Arden’s Coleman might consider using solar-generated electricity to supply his clients’ needs.

CHUCK WEISS

La Crescenta