Font ResizeRECENTLY, THE CHAIR of the California Energy Commission committee, Jeffrey Byron, recommended that the Energy Commission deny certification of the proposed 115-megawatt Eastshore Energy Center in Hayward.
He cited the following reasons: the facility would cause a significant cumulative public-safety impact on the operations of the nearby Hayward Executive Airport; the thermal plumes from the facility would present a significant public-safety risk to low-flying aircraft during landing and takeoff maneuvers; the facility would be inconsistent with Hayward's zoning ordinance requirements for a Conditional Use Permit since the project "would not operate at a minimum of detriment to surrounding properties"; and the facility would be inconsistent with the city of Hayward's Airport Approach Zoning Regulations and incompatible with the Alameda County Airport Land Use Policy Plan.
Hayward citizens and the surrounding communities expressed vigorous opposition to this facility.
Scores of individuals, community organizations and elected officials participated in public hearings.
Also, the commission received more than 1,500 written comments on air quality, public health, environmental justice, global warming, land use, noise, aviation safety, socioeconomics and property values. The plant would be just blocks away from the 600-megawatt Russell City Energy Center that was initially approved by the Energy
There were several formal intervenors in the Eastshore hearings, including Alameda County, the California Pilot Association, Chabot-Las Positas Community College District, the San Lorenzo Village Homes Association and the Hayward Area Planning Association, all of which objected to both facilities.
While it appears we may have been tentatively victorious in prohibiting Eastshore, a final decision by the Energy Commission will not be made until after a 30-day public comment period.
The next hearing will be at 1 p.m. July 21 in Council Chambers at Hayward City Hall. Public comment is scheduled from 6 to 8 p.m.
The operators of Russell City have recently applied for a two-year extension for the commencement of construction for their facility.
Many of the issues that apply to denial of the Eastshore Center also apply to the Russell City center.
Many of us think the impact of Russell City, which is five times larger than the proposed Eastshore center and will generate a 1,000-foot-high thermal plume (i.e., equivalent to a 100-story building), threatens to create far more problems than Eastshore.
The application to extend the time to begin construction provides us the opportunity to object to allowing construction at all, and to introduce the same evidence related to the findings with Eastshore that Russell City does not have the authority to restrict airspace and interfere with the operations of the Hayward and Oakland airports.
We are making a personal plea to all community members to join us in this fight for our community.
We need your help. Send your comments to the commission, attend the hearings and testify, write letters, and contribute to the legal expenses incurred by opposing these plants, which has taken enormous time and effort, by helping us with a fundraiser. For additional information, call (510) 813-6104 or e-mail slzvha@aol.com
Nancy Van Huffel is the administrator of the San Lorenzo Village Homes Association, and a member of the Coalition of Intervenors.
