Environmentalist, educator concerned about emissions
By L.C. Greene, Staff Writer
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, May 19, 2004

The Jurupa Valley's leading environmentalist and a member of the school board say they'll examine a proposal by the Riverside City Public Utilities to build a small power plant near the Santa Ana River south of Pedly.

The 96-megawatt generating station, planned for a 12-acre site adjacent to the city's wastewater treatment facility off Acorn Street and Jurupa Avenue, could be operational by June of 2005, said utility spokesman Steve Badgett.

When that plant is operational, however, prevailing winds could carry emissions north into the Jurupa Valley and over several grammer, middle, and high schools, said Jurupa Unified School District Board Member Mary Burns.

The plant will include state-of-the-art electrical generating and anti-pollution technology, Badgett said. In addition, the plant will have to pass muster environmentally with both state and local agencies.

"It's a pretty clean plant," Badgett said.

Center For Community Action and Environmental Justice executive director Penny Newman said she also plans to take a close look at how the plant works and the potential for polluting the air or water.

"I'm not saying we're opposed to the plant," she said. "We want to see more details on the technology and the proposal."

Burns said she too wants to examine the plant's workings, as well as the potential to convert to a less-clean technology.

"I want to see what they can do in the future," she said.

The small plant will only operate peridically, about 1,00 hours a year, and most likely during the hottest months when air conditioners put a strain on the power supply and energy imports are scarce, Badgett said.

Because the plant will generate less than 100 megawatts, the utility may bypass the California Energy Commission's drawn-out licensing process. However, the commission will examine public health and environmental effects before it issues a certificate, said California Energy Commission spokesman Chris Davis.

The plant must also meet South Coast Air Quality Management District requirements, he said.

As part of the Energy Commission's process, residents, schools, hospitals, day care facilities, and large businesses within a five-mile radius of the proposed plant were notifies about the plan to construct a generating station, he said.

Eleven Jurupa-area grammar schools, one middle school, and Rubidoux High School fall with the radius, according to district officials.

A tour of the proposed site and public workshop has been schedules for Wednesday, May 26, at 2 p.m. at the Riverside Water Quality Control Plant multipurpose room, 5950 Acorn St, Riverside.

Riverside Public Utilities' Steve Badgett invited anyone interested in additional information on the workshop or the plant to call him at (909)826-5504.