Task force discusses ways to keep Hayward clean and green

Though April 1st is the day of fools and jokes, staff and students found no laughing matter over their struggle against the Eastshore power plant.

A meeting was held on the Chabot campus to discuss recent information regarding the ongoing battle over the power plants in Hayward.

The discussion was led by Susan Sperling, an instructor of anthropology at Chabot, and Rob Simpson, a real estate broker dedicated to the cause of keeping Hayward clean and green.

A point that was constantly brought up was about the issue of awareness.

Sperling said, "A good start is to get our colleges more focused on these issues.

"Many of the citizens are unaware of what exactly is going on."

Calpine's Hayward shoreline facility was approved by the City Council without most of the public's knowledge.

Regarding the power plant Simpson said, "I don't call it Russell City because the name is deceptive. It is in the city of Hayward."

With the ok of Eastshore, it is estimated that 46 tons of particulate matter will be released into the air surrounding Hayward every year.

This was approved by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District which has been working on passing a carbon-tax.

The district will collect more tax funds from the creation of the two plants.

California Assembly woman Mary Hayashi has started work on designing a bill that will give cities the ability to disapprove of the building a power plant if one already exists in that city.

This bill will not arrive in time to prevent the construction of Eastshore, however.

With the final say approaching in early May, the powers at hand are doing all they can.

Both Simpson and Sperling are urging citizens of Hayward and the Bay Area to take a stand.

Sperling has suggested "teaching for students and faculty to learn of these issues."