MINUTES
of the
POTRERO POWER PLANT CITIZENS ADVISORY TASK FORCE
Thursday, February 28, 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 4:15 p.m.
Present: Bob Boileau Philip DeAndrade
John Borg Richard Millet
Joe Boss Steven Moss
Absent: Sarah Ames Claude Wilson Babette Drefke
Mr. De Andrade announced the appointment of Steven Moss to the Task Force to fill the vacancy left by Jim Firth’s resignation.
2. APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES
The minutes of the January 24th meeting were approved as written.
3. REPORT FROM THE OFFICE OF THE CITY ATTORNEY
Presentation by Deputy City Attorney Jackie Minor status of the Mirant application. The Final Staff Assessment was issued on February 12th. Most significant point is the staff
Potrero Power Plant
Minutes
February 28, 2002
recommendation for a hybrid cooling system using makeup water from the Southeast Treatment Plant. Is first time in the history of CEC that the staff is recommending a different cooling system from the one being proposed by the applicant. New section in the FSA called "Local System Benefits" which is the only section in which the City was able to file comments. There was no determination by the state whether we need a 540mw plant or whether a 260 mw plant would be sufficient. Local System Effects section was an effort on the part of the CEC staff to address the needs assessment section and was co-authored by the Cal ISO and CEC staff. City continues to reiterate the important policy positions: that Hunters Point must shut down; that overall air quality must improve; that Unit 3 must be shut down; that existing peakers must be retrofitted;
Cal ISO believes there is support for the Jefferson Martin transmission line to be built and project is on target although there could be a problem with licensing. Next step-CEC committee will set a prehearing conference.first part of April.
BCDC will conduct a public meeting on project on March 7th and take a vote on March 21st.
City learned from Cal ISO that it considered Potrero Unit 7 to be a single contingency for ISO planning purposes. Is a huge concern for the City because it calls into question the shutdown of Unit 3 and may call into question the shutdown of Hunters Point. Mirant has to reconfigure Unit 7 to eliminate those two common modes of failure if this plant is going to be built, because otherwise we end up with 900 MWs of power in SF, owned and controlled by Mirant, and the inability to shut any of it down and all of it being subject to RMR contracts.
Public will be able to speak up about this at the public hearings on the energy plan which take place March 18th at Grace Cathedral, March 19th at Ingleside Police Station and March 23 at the Southeast Community College.
4. MIRANT PRESENTATION
Mark Harrar of Mirant was not able to attend but responded to Task Force questions in writing.
Potrero Power Plant
Minutes
February 28, 2002
5. FINAL STAFF ASSESSMENT
Mr. Borg: requested that the Task Force respond to the single contingency issue by making a recommendation that the City not consider the Power Plant if the issue is not resolved. Should express sentiment that the way that Unit 7 is currently designed will not allow the shutdown of Units 3 and 4 because of reliability issues, and that it would be mandatory that Unit 7 be redesigned so that it would allow shutdown of Unit 3 and Hunters Point.
Mr. Moss: statement should express outrage that public has been misled.
Mr. De Andrade suggested that statement be sent to the CEC, Board of Supervisors and newspapers.
Mr. Borg: moved that the statement of outrage be sent; seconded by Boss, unanimously carried.
5. NEW BUSINESS
Mr. Boss suggested that the Task Force set a special meeting before the next regular meeting to discuss the City Energy Plan which should be released by then. Mr. DeAndrade stated that there would be a meeting on or about March 13th and established agenda items re energy plan, BCDC Plan and advice to the Board. All members present agreed.
Mr. Moss moved that Task Force members make appointments with CEC commissioners to speak to them. Mr. Boss seconded and motion carried.
Deputy City Attorney Joe Como announced that PG&E just made an application to the the ISO for approval of the Jefferson-Martin project and asked for approval to shut down Hunters Point after this project goes through and asked to have this put on the next meeting agenda.
6. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned at 6:00 p.m.
