Proposed Plant Gets OK, With Conditions
12/14/2008 - San Diego Union Tribune
By Michael Burge - Staff Writer
State says NRG has to take action
CARLSBAD – A proposed power plant for coastal Carlsbad was given a conditional green light by the California Energy Commission's staff last week.
However, the commission staff said NRG West needs to address possible effects on air quality, views and fish in Agua Hedionda Lagoon before the plant can be approved.
An official with NRG West, which proposes a 540-megawatt plant on the south shore of the lagoon just east of Interstate 5, said nothing in the report is a surprise.
“I view it as extremely encouraging,” said Tim Hemig, NRG's project manager for the power plant.
Hemig said the staff report showed the plant, which would be built on the grounds of the existing Encina Power Station, “can be permitted at the site and the three concerns they've targeted are solvable.”
However, the city of Carlsbad, which opposes a second power plant so near the ocean, says the staff report points out problems that will grow as the project's application progresses.
“We're heartened by the fact that the (report) recognizes the project has issues, and some of those are substantial,” said Joe Garuba, Carlsbad's municipal projects manager.
The report – the equivalent of an environmental impact report – evaluates 17 technical areas and notes that the project complies with all “laws, ordinances, regulations and standards” on all but three issues.
The energy commission has authority to permit power plants, and the city can only comment on the application.
NRG's project would consist of two 70-foot-high, gas-powered generating units, each with a 140-foot stack. The stacks would be sunk 40 feet, so they would tower 100 feet above the surroundings.
The 50-year-old Encina plant at Cannon Road and Carlsbad Boulevard would continue to operate after the new plant goes on line in 2011. NRG plans to retire the oldest three of Encina's five steam turbines, so two turbines would continue operating for the foreseeable future.
The energy commission staff says these points need to be addressed:
Air quality. NRG hasn't proposed to offset all the emission increases the new plant would generate, the report says. Hemig said: “We knew that and it's extremely simple to solve. . . . We will meet that.”
Biology. The report said NRG needs to clear with various state agencies its plan to desalinate 4.3 million gallons a day of ocean water for its operations. Power plants that draw in ocean water have a history of killing fish and small marine animals.
Hemig noted that Poseidon Resources recently got permits to draw in 25 times more ocean water – 100 million gallons a day – to produce drinking water on NRG's property, so the power plant can get a permit to do the same.
Views. The report says the proposed plant wouldn't have a severe effect on views by itself, but it is right next to Interstate 5. When the state widens the freeway, it will force the removal of trees and an earthen berm that screen the plant.
Hemig said such an impact is not solely on NRG's shoulders.
“This is another solvable issue and (needs) a cooperative effort between us, Caltrans and the city,” he said.
Garuba said the report confirms the city's position that the project is inappropriate for the coast.
He said NRG's design has changed since the company first filed its application in September 2007.
“At some point, the moving target needs to stop,” Garuba said. “NRG keeps tinkering with the project. Once that happens, that analysis will show that this project has serious issues.”
The commission's staff will conduct a public workshop on Jan. 7 and 8 at the Sheraton Carlsbad and plans to issue its final report in March.
The commission has not set a date for its final decision.
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