MINUTES
of the
POTRERO POWER PLANT CITIZENS ADVISORY TASK FORCE
Thursday, January 24, 2002
City Hall
1 Dr. Carlton B. Goodlett Place, Room 408
1. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
The meeting was called to order by Chair Philip DeAndrade at 4:30 p.m.
Present: Bob Boileau Philip DeAndrade
John Borg Babette Drefke
Joe Boss Richard Millet
Absent: Sarah Ames Claude Wilson
2. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
The minutes of the November 29th meeting were approved as written.
3. REPORT FROM THE CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE
Presentation by Deputy City Attorney Jackie Minor regarding document entitled Significant Open City Issues prepared by City Attorney’s Office. Is not intended to reflect all of the issues that are open or important in this case but does reflect the issues that the office is investing a lot of resources in as well as a lot of expert consultation. Is a working document. Among other issues discussed were Mirant’s lack of compliance
Potrero Power Plant
Minutes
January 24, 2002
with the Maxwell Ordinance, shut-down of Hunters Point facility, BCDC open space proposal, and analysis of alternatives to the once-through cooling system.
Ms. Minor also announced that a group from the City traveled to Crockett to look at the 240 megawatt power plant there. It uses a air-cooled condenser system to cool the plant; Joe Boss, Supervisor Maxwell, Greg Asay, Ed Smeloff, John DeCastro, a City expert and Ms. Minor were in attendance. City Attorney’s Office is planning to file comments with the CEC staff regarding the cooling system next week.
4. REPORT FROM PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION REGARDING THE CITY’S ENERGY RESOURCE PLAN
Presentation by Ed Smeloff, Deputy Director of PUC and Danielle Dowers, representing the Department of the Environment. Ms. Dowers announced that a series of public meetings on the Energy Resource Plan would take place from February 25 through March 2 with a report to the Board of Supervisors the first week of April.
Mr. Smeloff: the Resource Plan addresses all practical transmission, energy efficiency conservation, load management and non-fossil fuel alternatives to meet SF’s future energy needs
Four key vulnerabilities in SF: 1) limited ability to import power since SF is on the tip of a peninsula; 2) concentrated ownership of City power plants; 3) in-City generation comes from old and polluting power plants; 4) dependence on natural gas.
Energy plan makes basic assumptions: that we grow from 950 megawatts that peaked in 2000 to 1150 megawatts in the year 2012; assuming that we need to add resources and have a reserve; plan to use commercially available technology that can be sited in or near SF. Assume that steps need to be taken to mitigate market power by Mirant or any other single owner of power plants. Assume that if Mirant builds Unit 7, Unit 3 will be shut down; that the Hunters Point Plant will be shut down as soon as possible.
Looking at new resources; Hetch Hetchy planning to build new plant at the airport of 57 megawatts; also looking to build in-City sources as intermediary power if Unit 7 not built. Also looking to shift load and some small-scale technology to produce some power and heat; also looking at a new line from Redwood City to SF to be built by PG&E.
Potrero Power Plant
Minutes
January 24, 2002
Another scenario to rely more on imports, buy more power from outside of SF-would need to build the new power line if neither Unit 7 or new line built, would build a cogeneration plant to serve the downtown steam load.
Analysis will look at each year to see how many megawatt hours will be produced, how much will it cost to implement energy efficiency measures, how much money will it cost to operate the costs. Cash flow will be less for the Potrero facility. Will do a sensitivity analysis on natural gas. Will do a qualitative analysis on market power; environmental justice issues.
Scenarios are devised to help the public assess what their choices are; after PUC hears back from public, will make recommendations and draw conclusions to pass on to the Board of Supervisors.
5. REPORT FROM PLANNING DEPARTMENT: CENTRAL WATERFRONT PLAN
Presentation by Jasper Rubin, Planning Dept. staff: department has removed housing from the original plan so there will be no housing next to the power plant. First public review draft will be available in April.
6. TASK FORCE POSITION REGARDING THE POWER PLANT
Mr. Boss suggested that the Task Force send a letter to the Board of Supervisors asking each Supervisor to be aware of the Task Force’s issues of concern. Ms. Drefke moved that Chair De Andrade compose a letter expressing the Task Force’s concerns. Mr. Borg seconded and motion unanimously carried.
Greg Asay, Aide to Supervisor Maxwell told the Task Force that as the CEC is looking to the City to take a position on the cooling system, it would be very helpful for the Task Force to take a position in support of the dry cooling system which is feasible and eliminates all impacts on the Bay.
John Borg moved that the Task Force express the opinion that, subject to meeting the air quality requirements of the Maxwell Ordinance, the Task Force believes that the once-through water cooling system proposed by Mirant is not the best solution; and therefore, subject to meeting the air quality requirements and all other requirements of the Maxwell
Potrero Power Plant
Minutes
January 24, 2002
Ordinance, the Task Force recommends that a dry-cooling method is the most preferred environmentally sound and technologically and physically feasible solution to the cooling needs of the proposed Unit 7. Motion was seconded and unanimously carried.
Mr. Boss moved that the Task Force report to the Board of Supervisors that Mirant’s proposal for a pocket park at the end of 23rd Street is inappropriate and inadequate to meet the open space requirements of the BCDC Master Plan and we strongly urge the consideration of other alternatives nearby. He motion was seconded and unanimously carried.
7. NEW BUSINESS
Members discussed adding another member to replace Jim Firth. Mr. Asay cautioned that Mr. Firth must be replaced with another resident of the Potrero even though Mr. Millet stated that the Task Force should have another representative from Bay View-Hunters Point. It was agreed to put this matter on the next meeting agenda.
8. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 6:30
