Generators to Be Used Despite Protests

AES Corp. will fire up two power generating units in Huntington Beach next month, and although many residents are angry, city officials said Monday that they cut the best deal they could.

“For being undermined every step of the way by the agencies and the governor and everyone, . . . it was the best we can do,” City Councilwoman Debbie Cook said. “I don’t think there was anything that would have held up the start-up of this plant. They have a lot of friends in high places.”

The city, AES and the South Coast Air Quality Management District worked out final details late Friday to let the company restart two gas-fired generators that have been idle since 1995. Two generators already are in operation on the site.

Huntington Beach fought many aspects of the project, which got accelerated state approval earlier this year when an energy crisis seemed inevitable. City officials won a few concessions, including independent air quality monitoring and less use of a noisy, high-emission unit called a peaker.

Ed Blackford, president of AES Huntington Beach LLC, said of the settlement, reached Friday night after weeks of negotiations: “It removes obstacles. It puts issues to rest. Hopefully, we’re all on the same page.”

Topper Horack, who lives half a mile from the plant, said the peaker should not be used because it emits a yellow haze of pollution that blankets southeast Huntington Beach, an area with an elementary school, high school and public park.

Horack said he also is skeptical that AES will keep a settlement promise to use the peaker unit only if a power blackout is imminent and only until Oct. 1, 2002, if it is not upgraded to meet current air quality standards.

Because the state has a power surplus, there is no justification for restarting the two 40-year-old generators, Horack said.

Residents have long argued against restarting the two units, appealing to the California Energy Commission. City officials unsuccessfully sought greater concessions, including $14 million to make up for environmental harm.

City officials also appealed a key air quality permit, issued by the air quality district in May, but backed off after winning concessions from AES.

The two generators will add 450 megawatts of power to the state’s energy grid, enough power to supply 450,000 homes. The peaker--powered by eight jet engines--will be available to generate an additional 133 megawatts in case of emergency. Gov. Gray Davis pushed to get megawatts online in anticipation of a statewide energy crunch and blackouts that so far have not happened this summer.