Power Plant Takes Another Step Forward: State Energy Officials Visit Victorville to Get a Feel for the Project
By Tatiana Prophet, Daily Press, Victorville, Calif.
Jun. 12–VICTORVILLE — When it comes to a new power plant north of the city, California Energy Commission officials are most concerned with air and water quality.
About a dozen CEC officials launched their decision-making process on Friday to license the plant by coming to Victorville for a site tour and the first of many meetings and hearings.
“Air quality is always a big issue,” said Gary Fay, hearing officer for the CEC.
The $450 million plant, being developed by Victorville with Newport Beach-based Inland Energy as a consultant, involved 620 megawatts of natural gas-fired fuel and 50 megawatts of solar panels. It was deemed “data adequate” in February, meaning the CEC is moving forward with a year-long process to license the plant or not.
The air-quality issue involves volatile organic compounds and the oxides of nitrogen emissions that would result from burning natural gas, which is nevertheless a relatively cleanburning fuel.
The commission’s staff are concerned that arrangement involving the trading of VOC and NOx air credits is based on old data collected in the South Coast and Mojave air basins in the 1990s.
“The ambient air quality of the air basins today is significantly different from the 1990s; therefore, new analysis will be necessary,” a staff report stated.
The concer n about water involves a plan for the use of reclaimed water from the local sewer plant — water that is currently replenishing the Mojave River in a deal with the Department of Fish and Game.
The plant would need about 3,000 acre feet per year for cooling, said Tom Barnett, vice president of Inland Energy, who led the tour.
But the CEC is concerned about emergency backup water for the lifetime of the plant, should reclaimed water not be available.
With Friday’s public hearing, a handful of property owners showed up to tour alongside the energy officials.
But they did not get to read their comments into the record because the meeting took longer than expected.
Scott Eckert, a resident of Spring Valley Lake, was planning to express his ultimate support for the plant, but wanted to urge caution to the commissioners on monitoring Victorville’s decision-making.
“I encourage the CEC to challenge Victorville on every claim of ‘no environmental impact,’ especially in the areas of water utilization and air quality,” wrote Eckert in an e-mail to CEC vice chairman James Boyd.
Eckert cited issues Victorville has experienced after issuing negative declarations, including a Super Wal-Mart and a pet-food plant that has caused nearby property owners to disclose a noxious odor before attempting to sell.
Susanne Garfield, spokeswoman for the CEC, said all comments will be taken into account, even if they were not read at a meeting.
“The commissioners take those very seriously,” she said. “They review all comments and take all interested parties’ comments into account.”
To submit comments, write to Vice Chairman James Boyd, at the California Energy Commission, 1516 9th St., Sacramento, 95814, and make a note that your comments refer to Docket No. 07-AFC-1, Victorville 2 Hybrid Power Project.
Tatiana Prophet may be reached at 951-6222 or at tprophet@vvdailypress.com.
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Copyright (c) 2007, Daily Press, Victorville, Calif.
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