THE POLITICAL LANDSCAPE:Assembly opts out of nuclear idea

dpt-pollandscape19TextNA25SHBPDaily Pilot DeVore’s bill to allow building of power plants is killed in committee. Also: A supervisor has a plan for Newport links.ON THE WEB

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Next time you get hit with rolling blackouts or a big electric bill, don’t blame Newport Beach Assemblyman Chuck DeVore. The Assembly’s natural resources committee on Monday killed his bill that would have lifted a state restriction on building new nuclear power plants.

Right now, state law says no property can be designated for a nuclear plant until there’s a government-sanctioned disposal site for waste from the plant. DeVore’s bill would have nixed that provision so the planning process for new plants could begin.

Nuclear power will be essential if the state wants to meet its goal of reducing greenhouse gases, DeVore said. Besides, legislators haven’t left themselves many options — last year they voted not to renew contracts with electric suppliers that use coal-generated power, and the state lands commission recently rejected a proposed offshore liquefied natural gas terminal.

“Unfortunately, you can’t power an electrical grid on good intentions,” DeVore said. “I don’t see how you get there from here.”

Without the “nuclear option,” DeVore said he expects the state to become even more dependent on natural gas, which already supplies nearly 40% of California’s power. He also predicts that consumers will see their electric rates rise dramatically over the next decade.

True to form, DeVore isn’t giving up. He said he’ll bring the bill back next session and take it a step further by removing the state’s other restriction on nuclear power. It prohibits plants from reprocessing nuclear fuel.

Also, a consortium of investors in Fresno is considering a ballot initiative to allow a plant in that city, DeVore said, adding, “I would be much inclined to help them.”

MEETING SET ON GOLF COURSE

Expect a packed room Monday when Newport Beach’s citizens aviation committee meets to talk about the future of the back nine holes of the Newport Beach Golf Course. The county owns the parcel where they sit, and airport officials are considering other uses when the golf course’s lease ends July 31.

Nearly 1,000 golfers already have signed petitions to save the links, golf course officials said Thursday, and they plan to use a lobbyist to press their cause. The county’s airport commission ultimately would recommend a use for the golf course property to Orange County Supervisors, who have the final say.

Airport Director Alan Murphy will speak at the 8 a.m. meeting at the Newport Beach Central Library, 1000 Avocado Ave.

MOORLACH THE PROBLEM SOLVER

A “global solution” that gives new ball fields to Costa Mesa, more parking to John Wayne Airport, and lets the Newport Beach Golf Course keep its back nine could be in the offing, if Orange County Supervisor John Moorlach can negotiate it successfully.

Moorlach has been trying to broker a deal between Costa Mesa and Newport Beach to get four unincorporated areas annexed to the cities, and now he’s proposing to solve a few other issues at the same time.

Airport officials say they need more parking and have suggested using the back nine holes of the Newport Beach Golf Course, which are on county land with a lease that expires in three months. The county also owns a parcel near the airport that’s now leased to a self-storage business, and Moorlach is suggesting it could be used for airport rental car parking and possibly also ball fields for Costa Mesa.

That way, the golf course could remain, but the airport would be able to meet its needs. “I’m trying to provide an alternative,” Moorlach said Wednesday.

FEE HIKE (AND A BIG ONE AT THAT)

As Costa Mesa City Council members ponder whether to charge developers a fee for library services, Newport Beach officials are on track to hike the city’s park fees by about $27,000.

Like many cities, Newport Beach requires home builders either to donate park land when they build or pay a fee toward parks instead.

The present fee of $6,894 per residential unit hasn’t gone up in 20 years, so the city recalculated it based on a formula that uses the current value of two existing parks.

The proposed new fee? A big jump to $33,962 per unit.

Developers have asked the council to postpone a decision more than once, but the issue could be headed to a vote next week. As Councilman Ed Selich put it at a meeting last week, “The formula’s set in code. There really isn’t much to argue about.”