Power Plant Hearing on Air Quality Postponed
The South Coast Air Quality Management District postponed a public hearing Wednesday on whether to allow AES Corp. to fire up two retooled generators at its Huntington Beach plant.
The district issued a permit in May for the project, but the city of Huntington Beach and AES have appealed.
At issue is a condition requiring the firm to enter a long-term contract with the state promising to sell at least half of the energy produced in California. If the company failed to meet this condition, it would not be eligible for pollution “credits” required to restart the generators. The plant needs the credits because it will emit more pollution than allowed by law.
AES says that setting up such a contract is impossible and that if the condition is not removed, it will not be able to start the generators. The first had been scheduled to begin operation Tuesday.
The city is appealing the permit because it says it was improperly issued, is not consistent with the state Energy Commission’s permit and lacks adequate air-quality monitoring requirements.
The hearing was postponed until 9 a.m. Saturday.
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