Redondo Beach residents raise concerns about cost of power plant permitting process
A view from Hermosa Beach of the north-facing side of the AES plant on Harbor Drive. Photo The Redondo Beach City Council Tuesday resumed discussion of its approach to working with power plant owner AES to find profitable but non-industrial uses for the company’s Harbor Drive property. As is typically the case when AES discussion is on the agenda, dozens of Redondo Beach residents turned out to the meeting to make public comment. Many of them, this time, were concerned that the city was spending taxpayers’ money to become an “intervenor,” or to participate in the process by which AES’ proposal to re-power is permitted (or not). As promised, Mayor Mike Gin brought before the council four recommendations. The first was to establish and formalize a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with AES, outlining possible land use alternatives that might satisfy both the city and the property owner. An MOU, Gin pointed out, should contain the valuation of the property – a figure AES Southland Vice President Eric Pendergraft said his team is not prepared to present at this point. “It’s unusual for a private corporation to sort of let their hair down and open up their drawers, if you will…but…if…
Read this story on easyreadernews.com