New wrinkle in Hayward power plant planning

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Oct 21, 2007 | by Rachel Cohen

SAN LORENZO -- The Village Homes Association has unanimously voted to join a group of local petitioners in asking the California Energy Commission to reopen the public review of Hayward's Russell City Energy Center.

In mid-September, the CEC's vote to approve the plant appeared to end a nearly seven-year review process. However, many county residents have said they did not have ample notification of the process to respond.

Jewell Hargleroad Spalding, an appellate attorney who chairs the Alameda County Board of Zoning Adjustments, asked the Village Homes board for its support in reopening the public review process.

"Who's willing to step up and become a member?" she asked the board Thursday.

The attorney said that letters of resolution recently written by local groups calling for more time to examine the plants have been ineffective because they were not included in the public record that accompanies the reports on the energy plant.

She explained that the letters were not included because the submitting groups were not a party, since they had not intervened. By appealing as a group, the public record could be reopened for an evidentiary hearing.

Village Homes was presented with three options: do nothing, write a letter or join the group.

'In my opinion, there is no option but to become a petitioner," board member Jim Sherman said.

President Wulf Bieschke also commented.

"Personally, after the rolling blackouts in 2001, I don't think power plants are a bad thing," he said. "We're taxing the system now and we're having more people move in."

Spalding said the plan for a second energy plant piggybacked on a 2001 certification for a smaller plant when the blackouts were fresh on everyone's mind. She said the plans had not been thoroughly reviewed in public since.

Village Homes joins the California Pilots Association and Citizens for Alternative Transportation as petitioners.

Alameda County Supervisors asked the CEC earlier this month to reconsider its approval of the 600-megawatt power plant until environmental issues affecting unincorporated areas are resolved.

Supervisor Gail Steele, who represents Hayward, is holding a presentation about the Russell City Energy Center at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Chabot College. The unincorporated services meeting will begin at 6 p.m. in the San Lorenzo Village Homes meeting hall, a half-hour earlier than usual to allow people to attend both meetings.

Citizens Against Pollution, a coalition of local businesses and organizations formed within the past month, is hosting a gathering Tuesday at the end of Depot Road, where the plant will be located. The group will be viewing the location and is asking the CEC to reconsider its vote. Everyone is welcome to join from 11 a.m. to noon -- the discussion will likely continue over lunch. Photos are welcome.

For more information, call Audrey LePell at 510-785-2841.