California officials have agreed to extend operations at three natural gas plants on the Southern California coast to prevent rolling blackouts and support the state’s power grid. The decision, made by the State Water Resources Control Board, comes despite concerns about the environmental impact of these plants, which use seawater-cooled systems that can harm marine life. The three plants in Long Beach, Huntington Beach, and Oxnard will remain open for another three years to provide electricity during emergencies like last year’s heatwave. Additional extensions have also been granted, with the Scattergood Generating Station in Playa Del Rey receiving a five-year extension and a power plant in Redondo Beach potentially making way for new development.
Although this decision conflicts with California’s goal of 100% renewable and zero-carbon electricity by 2045, it highlights the challenges the state faces in maintaining a stable power supply. Natural gas plants are significant contributors to greenhouse gas emissions and other toxic gases that worsen Southern California’s air quality. However, Governor Gavin Newsom previously called for the use of fossil fuels to support the grid during energy events, which drew criticism from environmentalists. To ensure the plants’ availability, the state has agreed to pay the operating companies around $1.2 billion between 2024 and 2026.
The controversy surrounding this decision has sparked outrage among local residents, particularly in Oxnard, where the largely Latino community is concerned about the plant’s impact on their health and environment. Despite concerns raised during a public meeting, the Water Resources Control Board emphasized that the plants would only operate during extreme events and for maintenance, potentially reducing air emissions and water use. The staff acknowledged that nearby residents will continue to experience certain negative effects from the plants, but argued that the transition to alternative cooling technologies has already begun.
The debate over the plants’ ability to assist the grid during extreme power events remains contentious. During heatwaves in 2020, natural gas plants struggled, leading to power loss and increased pollution in local communities. These incidents have prompted questions about the viability of relying on fossil fuels and the potential risks they pose to public health. Despite these concerns, the plants will be incorporated into a new state electricity reserve program established by the Newsom administration and lawmakers, as part of an energy deal reached last summer. However, critics argue that this deal perpetuates the reliance on fossil fuel reserves and undermines the state’s commitment to renewable energy.
State Senator Henry Stern, although involved in negotiating the deal, offered an apology for the reliance on fossil fuels, emphasizing that they are meant to be a last resort. The decision-making process around these plants has stirred emotions among the water board members, who sympathize with residents living near the plants but feel constrained by their limited expertise in the energy sector. While there is common agreement on the need to decommission these plants, the water board’s role is primarily to oversee their operations rather than question energy agencies’ decisions.
Denial of responsibility! VigourTimes is an automatic aggregator of Global media. In each content, the hyperlink to the primary source is specified. All trademarks belong to their rightful owners, and all materials to their authors. For any complaint, please reach us at – [email protected]. We will take necessary action within 24 hours.
