State commission suspends power plant applications for Oxnard, Santa Paula

Wendy Leung | Ventura

Opponents of fossil fuels in Ventura County are hoping to close the books on two proposed power plants, but they will have to wait another year to find out their ultimate fate.

A committee of the California Energy Commission announced Thursday that the applications to build a power plant in coastal Oxnard and near Santa Paula can be suspended until July 2019. Opponents had wanted the applications terminated.

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Both proposed power plants — a Calpine Corp. project just outside of Santa Paula and an NRG Energy Inc. project at Mandalay State Beach in Oxnard — are under consideration by the state commission, which has the ultimate say whether they are built. Both projects are designed to provide power to a region that stretches from Ventura County to the Santa Clarita Valley.

The outlook is dim for the projects.

A committee of two commissioners last year announced their plans to deny the Puente Power Project in Oxnard because it did not comply with local laws and would pose significant environmental impacts. The project proposed in unincorporated Ventura County, Mission Rock Energy Center, does not have a contract with Southern California Edison.

Earlier: State committee delays decision on Santa Paula power plant application

Cities and environmental groups want energy commissioners to pull both applications. They say the region’s energy needs can be met with improved transmission lines and green energy projects.

Earlier this year, the California Independent System Operator approved new transmission lines near Moorpark. Edison is currently accepting bids for renewable energy projects including battery storage. The only gas-fired power plant applications being accepted are small projects in the Goleta area.

But power plant applicants want to keep the projects as viable options until plans for a renewable energy project are finalized.

The Energy Commission committee agreed.

“We find that it is premature to terminate the application,” wrote Commissioner Karen Douglas about Mission Rock.

Staff members for the commission, who work independently from the five-member board, did not support an end to the Mission Rock application. They did not object to an indefinite suspension.

“The committee also shares staff’s caution in terminating the proceeding until we have more information on the outcome of Edison’s request for proposals,” according to Douglas. “We find that the applicant’s request that this proceeding be suspended demonstrates prudence, not a lack of diligence.”

Under state regulations, an application can be terminated if the applicant failed to pursue the plans with “due diligence.”

“We were disappointed that the committee didn’t take the step of terminating the application for this bad project,” said Angela Johnson Meszaros, an attorney representing the Wishtoyo Foundation. “At least they put some boundaries on the length of the suspension.”

The foundation is fighting the power plant plans near Santa Paula for environmental and cultural reasons.

Under the committee’s direction, NRG and Calpine must submit status updates in October, April and June.

Those who fought against the Oxnard project have already declared victory. In April, opponents held a party on the beach to celebrate what they believe to be the project’s demise.

In the motion made to suspend the Oxnard power plant application, Commissioner Janea Scott wrote: “The committee finds that continuing to suspend this proceeding preserves the work that the staff, parties, public and the committee have performed to date. Further, Edison’s solicitation for preferred resources will develop important information about whether the proposed project, in its present form or in a modified form, is necessary to fill a local reliability need in the (region.)"