City Council Scrambles Against NRG’s New Plant

by The Editors on October 17, 2009

Industrial-TmThis Tuesday, October 20, 2009 the Carlsbadistan City Council will be considering the passage of a moratorium on coastal power plants to prevent NRG from putting in its proposed second power plant on the Encina Power Station property, according to a release sent out by the City of Carlsbad.

If passed, this action would prohibit a second power plant proposed by NRG, requiring the state to overrule the city if the plant is to be approved. . . Also under the resolution, no development application will be accepted, processed or approved that would expand the size, location, generating capacity or use of the Encina Power Station for the duration of the moratorium. . . . The resolution under consideration would establish an emergency ordinance on the building or expanding of power plants on Carlsbad’s coast, meaning it would go into effect immediately and could last for up to two years.

Anything that slows the industrialization of the Aqua Hedionda Lagoon is fine by us, but why stop at the power plant? Why not throw in a little rider prohibiting a desalination plant as well? No harm in that really.

Follow the jump for the entire release.
City of Carlsbad to consider power plant moratorium
Resolution would ban new power plants within coastal zone

CARLSBAD, Calif. – The Carlsbad City Council next Tuesday will consider passing a moratorium on coastal power plants and authorizing city staff to study changing what could be built at the site of the Encina Power Station. If passed, this action would prohibit a second power plant proposed by NRG, requiring the state to overrule the city if the plant is to be approved.

Also under the resolution, no development application will be accepted, processed or approved that would expand the size, location, generating capacity or use of the Encina Power Station for the duration of the moratorium.

The resolution under consideration would establish an emergency ordinance on the building or expanding of power plants on Carlsbad’s coast, meaning it would go into effect immediately and could last for up to two years.

The city is currently updating its General Plan, a document that serves as a blueprint for how land is used in Carlsbad. The city plans to use the time established under the moratorium to evaluate where power plants should be located and the future use of the land currently occupied by the Encina Power Station. These decisions will be incorporated into the updated General Plan.

NRG’s proposal for a second power plant does not include tearing down the old power plant. If approved by the state, two power plants will operate at the coastal location for the foreseeable future. Unlike older power plants that use ocean water for cooling, new power plants are air cooled and do not need to be built on the coast.

NRG submitted an Application for Certification to the California Energy Commission for the power plant in September 2007. The CEC—not the City of Carlsbad—has the authority to approve the project. A decision is expected later this year.

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