AES granted delay in upgrading emission reduction system

Tariq Malik

HUNTINGTON BEACH -- Plans by the AES Corp. power plant to cut back on

noxious emissions hit a snag Tuesday.

City Council deferred a decision over AES’ proposal to equip its two

functioning energy generators with a selective catalytic reduction system

-- emission scrubbers that will reduce the amount of gas pollutant

nitrogen oxide -- until March 5.

Ed Blackford, president and site manager of the power plant, said he

requested the delay because more discussion is needed over the plant’s

use of ammonia, a chemical used in the catalytic reduction system.

“We’ve been working very close with the fire department and thought we

had all the issues resolved,” Blackford said, adding that he learned late

Friday that more review is needed.

Huntington Beach Fire Department officials said their goal is to

protect the health and safety of the community.

“We are going over the city’s requirements for the project, and have

conducted a review and analysis of the best fire protection systems

available to insure health,” said Fire Marshal Duane Olson. “We’re just

working to work out all conditions of approval.”

If AES’ emission control project passes council muster next month, the

catalytic reduction system will be installed on generators No. 1 and No.

2, which are in service today. The generators typically produce about 450

tons of nitrogen oxide, a byproduct of the producing power, each year, a

number which could be cut down by as much as 90% in the active units.

Some residents, like Southeast Huntington Beach Neighborhood Assn.

President John Scott, are uncomfortable with the plan, calling the 90%

cutback a “phantom figure” depending on the level of pollutants produced.

The Planning Commission initially approved the project in December,

though Councilman Ralph Bauer appealed the plan because of the need for

more study into the health risk involved with ammonia-use, the system’s

design safety features, any hazards associated with an ammonia reactor

failure and an evacuation plan if a spill should occur.

The emission control system is also slated for immediate use on power

generators No. 3 and No. 4, which have been off line since 1995, as part

of a retooling project under review by the California Energy Commission.