If approved, the Oakley Generating Station, seen in this rendering, will supply power to 600,000 homes.
Graphic courtesy of Radback Energy
Graphic courtesy of Radback Energy
Commission Vice Chairman James Boyd, who presided over the event, said he was impressed with Monday’s turnout for the informational hearing that followed a site tour in which approximately 60 people visited the location of the proposed power plant. If approved, the plant will be built on 22 acres of the former DuPont property on Bridgehead Road.
District V Supervisor Federal Glover said it was good to see so many people interested in the project, especially since the project has the potential to create new jobs that will benefit many of Oakley’s residents: “This project will allow us the opportunity to put people who are not working to work with local hire. It will give us the opportunity to reach a lot of the economic demands within the community, and it’s going to put a lot of labor folks to work in terms of construction of the site, so we really have a jewel here.”
Radback Energy Senior Vice President and Project Manager Greg Lamberg said if the project is approved, more than 700 union labor jobs would be created during the three-year construction period, which will be a “huge shot of adrenalin to the economy,” as $4 million in supplies will be purchased locally and $6 million is projected to be generated in sales tax revenue. The plant will also generate up to $10 million in property taxes each year, creating funds to be used to benefit local services such as police and fire protection, street maintenance and schools.
Steven Nosanchuk, president of the Oakley Chamber of Commerce, said the financial gains for the community are greatly needed. “It’s important to me to see Oakley thrive again. Like most communities in our country, Oakley has been hit hard by the current economic crisis. The power plant being discussed brings jobs to Oakley and much-needed revenue to our city coffers. We’re a small city. To be discussing property tax revenue in the ballpark of $10 million a year is very encouraging. It makes me much more hopeful about the economic future of our city.”
More than 20 residents spoke in favor of the project, citing creation of jobs as the most significant benefit.
“There’s no question times are hard for most folks,” said Michael Hernandez. “During this economic crisis, with so many jobs that have been lost across California, the Oakley Generating Station will offer some relief.”
Marco Gonzalez, representing a local labor union, said it’s important to hire locally for the project and hopes there will be official documentation that stipulates local hiring.
Nosanchuk also stressed the need for local hiring for this project, which Lamberg said is a priority. In an interview with the Press last week, Lamberg said as part of conditions for certification in the final permit, Radback will first look to employ Oakley and far East County workers before expanding its search to the rest of the county and beyond.
During the public comments portion of the hearing, several residents expressed concern about pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. The Energy Commission’s Staff Issues Identification Report also asked for more studies to be conducted regarding air quality and noise pollution. Environmental impacts found to be significant must be mitigated for the project to move forward, and representatives from Radback Energy said they would work with staff to address all concerns as needed.
The informational hearing is just one step in a 16-month process in which the commission will conduct an analysis to determine whether or not the proposed project is viable. The commission is expected to make its decision by March, 2011. If approved, Radback anticipates beginning construction in May, 2011, and completing the project by the end of 2013, at which time PG&E will take over operation of the plant.
The proposed Oakley Generating Station is designed to be a 620-megawatt, state-of-the-art natural-gas-fired, combined-cycle generating facility supplying power to 600,000 households. The plant will also use General Electric’s latest technology, the 7FA Fleet, which employs faster starts, greater turndown, lower emissions and hirer efficiency. The Oakley Generating Station would be the first in the world to use this new technology.
For more information about the project, visit www.radback.com/CCGSLLC.html. To join the e-mail list for updates, visit www.energy.ca.gov/sitingcases/contracosta/index.html.
On Monday afternoon November 9th, two chartered buses, both chock full of Oakley residents, were taken on a “tour” of the proposed site for its planned new power plant, located on the old duPont site. The “tour” wound around Oakley, pointing out all kinds of places related to the proposed plant: “On your left is a mobile home park, the closest residences to the new plant, just a few hundred yards away” or, “On your right, an elementary school, just 0.6 miles from the site,” and so forth.
At the location, there was just a single row of Eucalyptus trees, defining its northern border, adjacent to twenty acres of vintage Klein grapevines scheduled to be torn up, paved over and built upon. A sandy dirt road, bordering the vines, was where the “tour guides” suggested we walk to look at the area. Not much to see.
Following this non-magical mystery tour, a hearing was held at Oakley city hall, where members of the California Energy Commission and the petitioners - Radback Energy, the builders of the plant - explained the project in more detail and then answered residents’ questions.
My first question was, “How much greenhouse gas emissions would the plant emit?” Answer: ONE MILLION TONS PER YEAR! (Yet the Radback representatives were delighted that the plant would emit 313,000 tons less per year with their new technology!) Think about it: one million tons per annum equals 83,333 tons per month; 19,231 tons per week or 114 tons PER HOUR!
I also suggested that as well channeling the expected millions of dollars of tax income towards more emergency services, it might also behoove the users of those tax dollars to apply some of it to more renewable energy projects, such as solar and wind - after all, the plant only has a shelf life of twenty to forty years, whereas sun and wind are in abundance out here in East Contra Costa County - and their shelf life is way longer! I did not receive a satisfactory answer.
I was astonished that almost all of the other speakers approached the podium, fell to their knees and worshipped at the Altar of The New Power Plant. No-one else brought up pollution - neither environmental nor noise - nor any other similar concern.
I do understand the joy of the union workers that this project will create jobs for our residents, albeit for just a couple of years, after which time the plant will be staffed with only twenty “professionals” - and a couple of janitors, I expect. However, the questions of pollution, public safety, etc., were largely ignored by the residents, who were too busy worshipping at the altar. Dollars make peoples’ eyes sparkle and glaze over...
There will be eight more hearings held before the plant is finally approved and I certainly hope that Oakley will seriously consider the safety of its residents, its air quality and the idea of renewable energy as an inevitable course for the future, during its decision-making process throughout these hearings. Oakley citizens must get involved before their city council, once again, runs roughshod over us all to approve something without listening to what we want and need.
Eve Diamond, Oakley