Issue date: 11/1/07 Section: News

Media Credit: The California Energy Commission A public health map from the California Energy Commission shows that the exhaust from two proposed power plants, would flow over Chabot and impact it greatly.

Media Credit: Robert McCarrie Bob Sarvey talks about the emission of power plants on Hayward.

A full house could easily describe the public hearing for the two power plants proposed for Hayward, which was held in the Little Theatre last Wednesday, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m.

The Little Theatre quickly filled up with concerned Hayward community members as well as those from the surrounding cities such as Alameda, Oakland, and Tracy.

According to art instructor Diane Zuliani who ran the event, the point of this public hearing was to "give [people the] opportunity to ask questions and clarify issues" for the concerned members of the community.

Among those attending the hearing were Alameda County Supervisor Gail Steele, Chancellor Joel Kinnamon, Charlotte Loft, president of the Faculty Association, members from the Office of Alameda County Council, and Brian Agen from the air district.

First up to speak was a concerned community member from Tracy, where there were already three power plants in place around his house, Bob Sarvey. Sarvey had intervened in at least 10 power plant hearings and was very concerned about the power plants being placed in Hayward.

Armed with a power point, Sarvey, set to the task of informing people at the hearing on exactly what was wrong with having power plants in Hayward.

Sarvey pointed out that the Bay Area Air Quality Management District was not required to mitigate air pollutants if they were under a certain amount in tons.

The main things Sarvey was concerned about was the lack of mitigation of Particulate Matter (PM 2.5), which is a type of particle in the air emitted by power plants that when breathed into the lungs did not come back out again, under 100 tons.

Sarvey pointed out that the PM 2.5 emitted from the Eastshore/Tierra Energy Company Plant was "pretty much unheard of."
The standard PM emitted from the plant is proposed to be 45 micro grams per cubic meter which is about 90 percent of the state standard allowed.

Sarvey pointed out that Life Chiropractic College would be the most impacted because it is closest to the plant. This amount of PM would cause those attending the college difficultly breathing when the atmosphere was right.

Mark, a Hayward resident, started to do research on these plants and which companies were involved in them when he realized he would be located downwind from the plant. Mark pointed out that although Russell City Energy Center/ Calpine used gas turbines which are efficient at generating natural gas, Eastshore/ Tierra would be using internal combustion engines that were more polluting per mega watt than the slower starting gas turbines.

It was pointed out that acrolein, which is essentially tear gas, would not have to be figured into the health estimate risk of the power plants.

Many speakers were concerned that not enough science was being factored into the health estimates for the two plants.

Brian Agen, from the air district, made note that the emission factor of the plants did not need to include toxic air data because natural gas was not associated as toxic.

However, acrolein was included in their health estimate as well as the risk assessments of the carcinogenic.

Students pointed out that the whole county and anyone going to Chabot's campus would be affected.

Another speaker went on to say that there are "no walls in Hayward to keep the pollution to yourselves."

Another worry, besides the pollution emitted from the plant, is centered on the fact that the plants would store liquid ammonia.

Ammonia is a chemical that when in contact causes severe damage to the body including chemical burns and inflammation of the eyes.

Another worry is that liquid ammonia would be transported daily to and from the plant on the busy Hayward streets.

A major concern about the liquid ammonia being transported across Hayward's busy roads is that terrorists could use this highly explosive material for bombs, which is what they are currently doing in Iraq.

One Hayward resident stood up and pointed out that the plants could legally get away with over producing pollutants was by using credits.

Credits can be bought from other companies who are emitting lower than the state max for pollutants.

However, the credits bought for these plants are over 20 years old and from a factory that is no longer in use.

Therefore the amount of pollution would not even out but it would rise.

Another point brought to discussion was the fact that the power plants would not directly effect the Hayward area and may just go to the bigger cities surrounding Hayward. Leaving Hayward to deal with rolling brownouts and power shortages.

Another point brought up was that every household in Hayward would be given a stipend if they voluntarily switched from burning wood in their fireplaces and would replace them with natural gas fireplaces, which is much more expensive.

By doing this, and if everyone participated, the air pollutants would drop by 40 tons.

However, it was mentioned that this drop of 40 tons of pollutants still did not address the issue of the other 90 tons of pollutants that the plants would emit.

When posed with the question of whether or not the city was for the power plants in the beginning, the answer was that the Russell City Energy Center/Calpine was approved by the city because this plant was presented in 2001 during the power shortages and rolling brownouts.

Its placement seemed appropriate since it would be next to the Waste Water Treatment Center.

However, the Eastshore/ Tierra plant was not wanted by the city because it would be too close to the public and it did not meet the zoning requirements.

One of the main points brought up was the fact that power plants all of a sudden happened.

The Russell City Energy Center/Calpine already got its final approval for the Hayward area and Eastshore/Tierra is pending for its final approval.

In 2001 the power plants offered funding to Hayward's establishments such as the library and school districts.

Then, Calpine went bankrupt and the power plant issue seemed to go dormant.
Then, between 2005-2006 several hearings were held and unfortunately not a lot of people attended.

This was mainly due to poor notification of the hearings.
Joel Kinnamon, Chancellor, pointed out that there were no formal types of notification. Seemingly overnight Russell City Energy Center had its final approval.

Soon after the hearing of this the Board of Trustees learned of the 30-day window for reconsideration and that they now had a week to file before the window closed.

The Office of Alameda County has also filed for reconsideration.
Audrey Lappell, a member of the Citizens Against Pollution and California Emergency Commission said that the Russell City Energy Center/Calpine was approved on Sept. 26 and that the pre-hearing for Eastshore/Tierra would be held Nov. 26 at the Hayward City Hall. From 2 p.m to 5 p.m..

The public could watch the hearing and from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. it would be open for public comment. The evidentiary hearing will be held Dec. 17 and 18.

For more information on dates and times go to the energy commissions Web site at www.energy.ca.gov.

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