Bad Neighbor Deserves No Favors

Re “Time for AES to Pitch In,” July 22 editorial:

While I agree with the thrust of your editorial, I found it way too tepid in going after an energy corporation (and major polluter) that has been not only a poor neighbor but also a traitor to the community in which it is located.

It is bad enough for the residents of Huntington Beach to sit powerless (no pun intended) while their environmental and economic well-being is sacrificed to these 21st century robber barons, but it is worse if the energy produced leaves the state that is handing out break after break.

The California Energy Commission also gets poor marks for coddling AES and leaving Huntington Beach with little recourse against an outside corporation that has manifestly shown its contempt for the interests of the community. The editorial says, “AES has not had the best relationship with the residents near the plant and with city officials in Huntington Beach. If there are more shortages and the company sells its product outside California, relations are unlikely to improve.”

That is the understatement of the year.

If AES does that, there will be a march on the power plant that will make the storming of the Bastille seem like a tea party.

As one of the residents near the plant, I can assure you that relations will go from worse to catastrophic. Come on, Times, let’s see a little more electricity in your editorials on this issue.

Tim Geddes

Huntington Beach