Carlsbadistan City Councilman Matt Hall took the anti-powerplant message to the Encinitas City Council this week pleading with Encinitas to join Carlsbad in opposing the new NRG Power plant that is set to belch 900,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas into the air of North County, according to a story in the San Diego Reader.
Obviously, tourism is a big concern for us, as it is for everyone on the coast. I can’t express enough what a landmark this is going to become. When you drive down the road, you’re going to be 65 feet away from these big iron structures. You’ll be able to tell people, ‘When you see the big iron structure, it’s three ramps south and to the right to get to [your] hotel.’ This whole region has a buy in on what we do with our coastline.”
They really don’t have any control over what NRG does with their Encina Power Station does with their equipment, but that didn’t stop the Carlsbad City Council from “opposing the proposed addition,” according to a Barbara Henry story in the North County Times.
Carlsbad’s council hopes with its vote Tuesday to emphasize concerns the city has about the project in advance of the state’s hearings. City officials have raised questions about air quality, visual blight and other issues, but their main emphasis has been that the entire Encina site ought to get out of the power-generating business. . . . At Tuesday’s meeting, Councilman Matt Hall called the nearly 100-acre site one of the best pieces of land along San Diego County’s coastline. Councilwoman Julie Nygaard said the future of the area was of keen interest to many people in Carlsbad.
We’d be happy seeing the power plant go as long as they leave the smoke stack standing.
The City of Carlsbad, the organization that seems to love the idea of a desalination plant in the lagoon, is now asking Carlsbadistan residents if they like having the Encina Power Station there at all, according to a Barbara Henry story in the North County Times. They’ll ask the question in a mailer that is going out this week.
“If you didn’t have (the existing power station) there today, would you put one there or would you put it elsewhere?” said Joe Garuba, who is managing the city’s involvement in the proposal. “We don’t have the answer to that question, but we think it’s an important question to raise.”
Personally, we love the iconic nature of the power station’s 400-foot-tall smoke stack. It’s like mythical, benevolent guardian standing watch over Carlsbadistan and reminding everyone where they are, or how far they are from home. Unfortunately, NRG Energy the station’s owner, has plans to remove the station and the stack and put in a new 520-megawatt plant that would be “not very noticeable.”
The California Coastal Commission has been on their game lately with Poseidon Resources, the company that wants to put a $300 million desalination plant in on the lagoon near the Encina Power Plant. For the fourth time this year they have rejected the plan saying it is sill “incomplete.”
Commission staff scientist Tom Luster rejected Poseidon’s latest application Tuesday, citing several topics on which he needed more information. Among those were alternative water-intake methods, environmental mitigation measures and the project’s financial feasibility.
Retired Navy vet Jim Strickland told The San Diego Union Tribune that he likes the Carlsbad Stack and he thinks we should keep it. We totally agree (not only because its part of our logo).
“I like it, and I think it’s crazy to get rid of it,” said Jim Strickland, a retired Navy veteran and 19-year Carlsbad resident who has long admired the distinctive column.
We also agree with Susan Gutierrez.
“It’s an iconic, visible symbol of Carlsbad,” said Gutierrez, president of the Carlsbad Historical Society. . . “As a resident, when I see the power plant stack from anywhere on the coast, I know I am in Carlsbad, and home,” she said.
Exactly. Apparently, the issue will be discussed by the Historic Preservation Commission tonight. For all the details, please click the link.
Employees from NRG’s Encina Power Plant took a break from delivering energy to customers, and instead contributed energy to the Carlsbad community through volunteer projects for the company’s annual Global Giving Day.
Crews were sent to two local nonprofits – the Boys & Girls Clubs of Carlsbad and La Posada de Guadalupe. At the Boys & Girls Club’s Village Clubhouse, NRG employees spruced up the landscaping, cleaned the gym floor, and washed the Club vans.
“It was absolutely wonderful having those smiling faces helping to make our Clubhouse a better place,” said Club Director Andy Purviance. “As a nonprofit, we rely on the generosity of volunteers to take care of the ‘extra’ touches, and we are thankful to the NRG volunteers who gave their time.”
The City of Carlsbad is asking for input concerning what exactly they should do to improve the coastal zone from the Warm Water jetties south to Mansano Drive.
“We have a lot of opportunities along our coastline to improve safety, especially for bicyclists and pedestrians, ease traffic flow and create a better experience overall,” said Assistant City Manager Gary Barberio, who is overseeing a variety of coastal improvements in Carlsbad. “Before we make any changes, we want to make sure we have considered the input of everyone who uses the area.”
If you’d like to contribute please attend the community meeting on Thursday, Nov. 19, from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Carlsbad Senior Center, 799 Pine Ave. For the official word from the City of Carlsbad, please follow the jump.
Michael Massie, 54, reportedly died “while sitting on a Carlsbad beach” on Wednesday afternoon, April 10, 2013, according to a story in the UT San Diego.
Witnesses saw the Carlsbad man sit in the sand after riding his board near Terramar Beach, just south of the Encina power plant. He then leaned over into a strange position, and slid into the water, Ellano said. . . He was dragged back to the shore, and witnesses called 911. Massie was taken to Tri-City Medical Center, where he died at 7:03 p.m., shortly after he arrived at the hospital.
Massie reportedly died of “natural causes related to cardiovascular disease.” Our thoughts are with Massie’s family and friends.
Carlsbadians who couldn’t afford the $85-a-plate Chamber of Commerce State of the City report luncheon at the Sheraton last month were invited to a free showing of a ten-minute video at the Dove Library a few days later. Former Mayor Bud Lewis didn’t like to give or listen to long speeches, so he turned to videos to serve as the annual report to city residents. Mayor Matt Hall continued the tradition, sacrificing information for feel-good entertainment.
Sinclair Lewis would have smiled at the unbridled boosterism of Carlsbad city officials featured in this year’s State of the City video. He’d be reminded of the self-satisfied city fathers of Zenith, Babbit’s fictional Midwestern hometown. But Carlsbad residents were shortchanged if they expected to get more than a virtual pep rally from their city’s annual report. [click to continue…]
NRG, owner of the 57-year old Encina Power Station, has made no guarantee that it will tear Encina down if the new plant is approved, meaning that Carlsbad would be home to two power plants on its coast. Several thousand local residents have opposed this project because: I-5 widening will create a dangerous situation. This plant will the closest ever to a major freeway; Fire safety concerns; Increase in air pollution; Disruption of view corridors; Violates Carlsbad land-use rules.
For more on why this powerplant is a bad idea and what you can do to make your voice heard, follow the jump. [click to continue…]
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Carlsbadistan City Councilman Matt Hall took the anti-powerplant message to the Encinitas City Council this week pleading with Encinitas to join Carlsbad in opposing the new NRG Power plant that is set to belch 900,000 metric tons of greenhouse gas into the air of North County, according to a story in the San Diego Reader.
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The Riehl World: City Video More Fat Less Filling
by Richard J. Riehl on September 6, 2012
Carlsbadians who couldn’t afford the $85-a-plate Chamber of Commerce State of the City report luncheon at the Sheraton last month were invited to a free showing of a ten-minute video at the Dove Library a few days later. Former Mayor Bud Lewis didn’t like to give or listen to long speeches, so he turned to videos to serve as the annual report to city residents. Mayor Matt Hall continued the tradition, sacrificing information for feel-good entertainment.
Sinclair Lewis would have smiled at the unbridled boosterism of Carlsbad city officials featured in this year’s State of the City video. He’d be reminded of the self-satisfied city fathers of Zenith, Babbit’s fictional Midwestern hometown. But Carlsbad residents were shortchanged if they expected to get more than a virtual pep rally from their city’s annual report. [click to continue…]
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