 Proposed New Power PlantThe City of Vernon is working through the permitting process for a proposed new Southeast Region Energy Project (SREP). The process involves the California Energy Commission (CEC) and the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD). The city will develop the 914-megawatt natural gas-fired generating facility in the south-central portion of the City on a 13.7 acre site at the corner of Boyle and Fruitland avenues.  The SREP design employs the latest technologies, allowing it to be the most energy efficient gas-fired plant in California. Once operational, the SREP will utilize less than half the natural gas to generate a kilowatt-hour of electricity than do the 39 existing power plants in LA County. The resulting high efficiency also dramatically lowers emissions. The SREP will be the cleanest gas-fired power plant in California – generating roughly 20% lower emissions per unit of electricity than Vernon’s Malburg Generating Station, which was the lowest emission power plant when it came on line almost two years ago. Progress toward receiving the authorization to build the new plant has been slowed by opposition from environmental groups (National Resources Defense Council and Communities for a Better Environment), as well as interested community organizations, City of Los Angeles Council Member Jose Huizar (representing the Boyle Heights area), and Los Angeles City Attorney Rocky Delgadillo. The strongest opponents take the position that there is already too much pollution, so no new power plants should be allowed. The City argues that the new cleaner-operating plant could alleviate a lot of the current pollution and help take some of the strain off over-taxed power plants already servicing the Los Angeles area. Links: |