ROUNDUP

After a lengthy battle over power and pollution, city officials and

the AES Corp. reached an agreement last week, which will allow the power

plant to fire up the two refurbished generators by next month.

In return for dropping an appeal with the South Coast Air Quality

Management District, the city of Huntington Beach will see a few

pollution concessions, but no real financial perks.

“There was some additional testing that was agreed to and I think that

was primarily it,” said Ed Blackford, plant manager for AES of the new

concessions agreed to on Friday.

When discussions concluded the city was assured of several key things,

said Rich Barnard, director of communications for the city.

* The city will receive a $50,000 grant from the Air Quality

Management District to conduct independent air quality source testing at

the AES power plant on Newland Street.

* AES will direct sale electricity at a low cost to businesses

including those in Huntington Beach using 20 kilowatts or more of

electricity while state law permits such discounts.

* Air Quality Management District will use its powers to enforce the

California Energy Commission permit conditions on air quality.

* Continuous monitoring equipment will be installed within 30 days of

the plant’s turn on.

* The Peaker Unit No. 5 will be used only in case of an imminent

blackout and will be removed from service on Oct. 1, 2002, unless it is

retrofitted with new air quality equipment.

Another benefit has been around but not publicized, said Rich Barnard,

the city’s spokesman.

“Part of the agreement was, and it is not exclusive to Huntington, was

to get energy for less than you would normally get it,” Barnard said.

“Here was an opportunity to help AES promote to the program and it will

allow our businesses to get cheaper rates.”

The specific 30-day stipulation for the installation of monitoring

equipment simply nailed down agreements AES had already made with the

energy commission, Blackford said.

“There is a mistrust of AES and what our intentions are, and if that

makes them feel more comfortable that’s fine,” he said.

City officials were pleased that a settlement had been reached that

put public health first with addressing energy needs, said Ray Silver,

city administrator.