Two new power plants too many for Hayward

At a time of global warming, should we be building more fossil-fuel-burning power plants? And if we do build them, should they be in urban areas, and should two be concentrated in one Bay Area city?

Hayward is threatened with two new plants: the "Russell City Energy Center" to be built by Calpine and the "Eastshore Energy Center" proposed by Texas-based Tierra Energy.

Eastshore would be a peaker plant, that is a plant to be operated only at times of high electricity demand. It would be located 1,000 feet from residences and 1,800 feet from a high-density apartment complex. The Eastshore plant is expected to release 64.39 tons per year of PM₁₀ (particulate matter less than 10 micrometers in diameter, fine enough to enter lungs and bronchi and associated with health problems) and 55 tons of ammonia, as well as acrolein, volatile organic compounds, and other pollutants.

Even with state-of-the-art pollution-control equipment, these plants would exceed allowable air emissions. The companies are therefore planning to "mitigate" their pollution with "Emission Reduction Credits", essentially paying for reductions in emissions from other sources at other locations in the Bay Area. The California Energy Commission, however, has asked for a "mutually acceptable mitigation plan reflective of local air quality improvement goals".

Hayward residents are concerned about the effects of the plants' pollution on their health and that of their children. The most affected areas include high proportions of minority and low-income residents.

The pollution could also damage the nearby Hayward Regional Shoreline, Eden Landing Ecological Preserve, and even the northern portions of the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge. Other concerns include the danger posed by the stacks and exhaust plumes to air traffic and migratory birds. The city of Hayward has expressed its opposition to the Eastshore plant.

WhatYouCanDo This month's key action

These plants can not be built without approval from the California Energy Commission. Write to:

William Pfanner
Project Manager for Eastshore
California Energy Commission
1516 Ninth St., MS-15
Sacramento, CA 95814-5512
bpfanner@energy.ca.state.us

Ask the commission to deny Tierra Energy's Eastshore project.

More information can be found at http://edengardens.wordpress.com or by calling Kim Finn (510) 782-5931 or email finntastic4 -at- yahoo.com

To join in the Sierra Club Southern Alameda Group's efforts to stop these plants, contact or call (510) 848-0800 ext. 304

Diana Hanna