An Informed Public: The Goal of the Blog

Issues regarding the AES Plan to start up the Power Plant were brought to light by Roxanne Williams and this Blog. The Blog informed many of the members of the School Board, and City Council regarding the conflicting uses of the property adjacent to the Proposed High School #3.

The School Board took the bold step and communicated its Concerns About the Proposed Power Plant to the Energy Commission. Where as the City Council of Grand Terrace chose to remain silent as a body, regarding the proposed plan and the potential risk to the students and Citizens of Grand Terrace.

Only Hermin Hilkey Former Council Member expressed a high degree of concern when AES and the Redevelopment Agency wanted to swap land, to make the AES plan easier to implement.

Demonstrating the Schizophrenic Nature of the City's Attitude regarding AES, just note the current statements by Steve Berry, now we have an "Ugly" Power Plant. Not that the NEW Power Plant would somehow be UN-UGLY. Remember he is also known for promoting the Old Power Plant as a Movie Set.

If you have Lemons make Lemon Aid... but it is easier to sell if you don't badmouth lemons.

Perhaps new Council Members will be more Citizen Focused, rather than focused on who donates to Grand Terrace Days, or their Political Campaign Funds.

Power-plant plan plug pulled

Stephen Wall, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 07/22/2008 10:14:19 PM PDT

GRAND TERRACE - Plans for a 300-megawatt power plant that caused concern among some residents are off the table.
The Long Beach company hoping to build the approximately $200million plant said it has withdrawn its applications with state and local licensing authorities to proceed with the project.

AES Highgrove LLC tried to sell the site on which the plant was slated to be built to another company, but the deal fell apart a week or two ago, AES officials said.

"We were up against deadlines from both the California Energy Commission and the South Coast Air Quality Management District to move the project forward," AES Highgrove project director Don Vawter said in an e-mail to the city. "When the sale of the development fell apart, we had no choice but to have our applications at both the (energy commission) and (AQMD) pulled."

Vawter said "some interesting alternative energy ideas" are being considered for the site, but it will take the company a few months to decide what to do.

AES Corp. spokeswoman Meghan Dotter declined to provide additional information on the project.

The plant was slated as a peaking facility to meet electric generation load during high demand periods. It would have consisted of three 100 megawatt gas-fired turbine generators and related equipment to operate the facility.

The plant was proposed on a 10-acre parcel at 12700 Taylor St., across the street from a proposed high school.

Neighbors and Colton Joint Unified School District officials expressed concern about the proximity of the high school - scheduled to open in September 2011 - to a power plant.
"It's been a long, hard fight," said Roxanne Williams, a 12-year resident who lives near the plant site. "It's better for the city and the residents and the proposed new high school. What this will do is open up that whole area.

"Instead of having it exposed to heavy industry, now we can bring in commercial and retail and clean up that area."

A deactivated power plant formerly owned by Southern California Edison now sits on the site.

AES Highgrove planned to demolish the plant and build the new facility on property once used by Edison for fuel oil storage.

Assistant City Manager Steve Berry said the city would like to see the old power plant on the site dismantled.

"On the positive side, it's one less obstacle we have to deal with in order to get the new high school built," Berry said. "On the down side, we're stuck with a hulking, aging power plant that's an eyesore on our landscape."