PALMDALE – The Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC), an organization dedicated to promoting job growth, economic expansion and preserving the overall global competitiveness of Los Angeles County, is the latest organization to support the Palmdale Power Plant, city officials announced Wednesday.
“During construction alone, the project would directly support an estimated 800 construction trades jobs—many of which will be drawn from the local surrounding communities,” wrote LAEDC President and CEO Bill Allen in the support letter. “Once on line, the new power plant should sustain an estimated 35 permanent highly skilled, high-wage jobs, not to mention the indirect and induced job impacts of this project, which could be considerable.”
“Every single one of these jobs is desperately needed in the Antelope Valley, which continues to suffer excessively high unemployment,” wrote Allen.
“This project also comes at a critical time with the closing of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station, which will take much needed energy resources off the grid, requiring new sources of power generation,” Allen continued. “The LAEDC gladly joins with the California Energy Commission and the United States Environmental Protection agency in supporting the Palmdale Hybrid Power Project.”
Support letters and statements have poured into Palmdale City Hall in support of this project, which was permitted by the California Energy Commission and the Environmental Protection Agency.
Below are excerpts from supporters:
“The Palmdale Power Plant will bring enormous benefits not only to the Antelope Valley, but to the State of California as well. Declining use of coal-fired generation and the loss of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station negatively impacts our state’s economy. The PHPP will create more than 600 new jobs in construction installation, technology development and other related fields…In addition, the project will pay for the paving of 4-6 miles of roads, and the construction of a regional reclaimed water trunk line that benefits both Palmdale and Lancaster.” – State Senator Steve Knight.
“The Palmdale Power Plant will improve environmental conditions. The California Energy Commission conducted an extensive review of the project and granted a permit to it finding: ‘…the project will neither result in, nor contribute substantially to, any significant direct, indirect, or cumulative adverse environmental impacts.’ A new plant will allow California to retire older plants and improve regional air quality.” – Assemblymember Steve Fox
“The Palmdale Power Plant will help provide clean, reliable energy for California. Projects like this that can operate 24 hours a day provide grid stability vital to the use of renewable energy. Without base load producers that can be ramped up and down as needed, the grid can’t accommodate intermittent renewables like wind and solar. Natural gas is a safe, clean source of reliable domestic energy production. The Palmdale Power Plant is a great example of the way we can meet our domestic energy needs, safeguard the environment and promote economic development.” – Board of Equalization Member George Runner
“The Palmdale Chamber of Commerce is encouraged by the many benefits the Palmdale Power Plant will bring. Those benefits include more than 600 jobs, increased stability and reliability of the SCE grid, and a positive impact on the region as a whole. The Palmdale Power Plant will have a ripple effect on the surrounding community as a result of its economic multiplier which is likely to create additional indirect jobs.” –Jeff McElfresh, Chief Executive Officer, Palmdale Chamber of Commerce
“The Award-Winning Antelope Valley Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is united in supporting the Palmdale Power Plant Project and we stand with you in bringing this project to fruition…Due to its state of the art design, super-flexible configuration and ability to rapid start, we understand that the Palmdale Power Plant will bring additional stability to the SCE grid which, at times, can be costly to maintain and unreliable.” Isaac G.D. Barcelona, President, A.V. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
“We at the Antelope Valley African American Chamber of Commerce admire you (the Mayor) and the City’s leadership, forethought, and capital investment regarding this project. Let’s join other cities in the State of California such as: Burbank-Glendale, Anaheim, Pasadena, Vernon, Azusa, Victorville, Corona, Moreno Valley, and more providing power for its community. Our area is ideal for a project such as this.” – Richard Poston, President/CEO Antelope Valley African American Chamber of Commerce
“On behalf of the Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building and Construction Trades Council, I am writing to express our strong support for the Palmdale Power Plant. Our Council represents 140,000 skilled crafts men and women. Thousands of these members live in the Antelope Valley. They are hardworking neighbors and contribute to their communities. They care about making the right choice for the local economy and environment. The Palmdale plant is the right choice.” – Ron Miller, Executive Secretary, Los Angeles/Orange Counties Building and Construction Trades Council
View the support letters in full here.
(Information via press release from the City of Palmdale.)
Previous related stories:
VIDEO: Lancaster opposition continues Palmdale Power Plant
Palmdale Power Plant drawing support from elected officials, community leaders
Palmdale: Power Plant no threat to Air Force Plant 42
Palmdale responds to Power Plant controversy, yet again
Palmdale responds to hybrid power plant controversy, again
Palmdale responds to hybrid power plant controversy
Go For A Drive says
I am seeing a few comments about in a heavily populated area. That area is considered lightly populated.
I see comments about how it would not be allowed in heavily populated areas. Go for a drive to many beach cities in LA and Orange counties were there are coal fired plants that spew much more than this in very high density housing areas. (Though many are only fired up when the nuke plant is down, oh look at that it has been down a couple of years.)
Natural gas burning releases much lower particulate matter than liquid fuels (oil) or solid fuels (trash, coal, lumber industry left overs).
The jobs issue is what it is, the crew is needed to build it but once it is built only a small crew is needed to keep it going. Just like building a home, it employs lots of people out the gate, then just the gardener and an occasional visit from a plumber, roofer, etc.
More pollutants come from the trains, cars and buses than will come from this plant. Add in all the houses burning natural gas for water heating, space heating, etc. Then add in the race way, motocross track, and cement plants. Don’t forget those weekend BBQs and the dumb folks who still burn their trash including plastics and oil! (Yup they still do that even though it is against the law).
yabbbadabba says
Thank you to Adam Chant as he has answered much more than any other report I’ve seen so far. I also liked the report by the City Manager of Lancaster, Ca.
yabbbadabba says
Well I am totally against a power plant so close to populated areas (business and residential plus schools, etc.). Why is this subject going on and on and on. Enough already as it is not welcome. Part-time jobs: That a laugh in itself as Full-time jobs are in demand. If baffles me to think of all the empty land elsewhere in Palmdale yet a highly populated area has been chosen. Why? What does the Defense Department have to say in regards to it’s close proximity to Plant 42, and did they authorize the sale? I question the true validity of this endeavor as it is obvious that it is not welcomed. Come on people get real for a change as this subject matter regarding a power plant is getting old quick. I’m concerned regarding safety.
Richard says
Power plants are good things as a rule. But plants of this size are never seen this close to residential housing. There is a huge vacant desert at arms reach. None of these promoters would stand for this if it was in their backyard. Besides the pollution, what would this do to the view of the Antelope valley sky? Google “Power Plant Steam Plume”, and select Images. Is that the future Antelope valley wants in it’s sky?
Adam Chant says
Wow, there are just too many rebuttal articles about this plant for it to be a good thing. Really.. if it was a done deal of all roses and kitty cats then why the constant press release trying to explain away questions?
And now we are up to 800 part time jobs that have been reported to be as few as 300 in previous publications. Even this article quotes 600 from Steve Knight, but 800 from Bill Allen. What is it 300, 600 or 800 temporary jobs over the 3 year construction phase? And in each case it does not include the ancillary jobs created from the project..
Jobs are good no doubt, but try to be a little more honest about the size of phallicy that will be imposed on the community.
Bottom line as I see it is that this plant will be running 110% of the stated usage 24/7/365 from the day it’s operational until it is decommissioned in the distant future. With San Onofre closing down there is now 2254 MW less energy being produced for SCE. PHPP and all of the other Hybrid power plants on the table to be manufactured in the near future will only match the power production from San Onofre. The feature about quick power-up of natural gas power systems is totally irrelevant when it will effectively be running all the time anyhow. Because of that reality the pollution produced from this plant will be at its highest rate all the time and should be the only metric considered when discussing emissions. Bolster the temporary job numbers all you want, but stick with the worst case for pollution and let’s deal with it factually and intelligently.
What is the real opportunity cost?
Jobs vs pollution?
Reduced energy rates vs pollution?
Ability to support more industry vs pollution?
How much will we as a community pay for 35 permanent jobs, the same SCE rates, and no net gain in energy production across Southern California so that we can have a power plant in our community.
Lancaster is probably objecting and trying to block this because when BYD ramps up factory production it will be an equivalent producer of pollution as the PHPP. The problem will again be trying to find Carbon credits to offset the pollution created here by BYD.
The man behind the curtain is holding a limited number of carbon credits for the entire A.V. and Palmdale and Lancaster are in a battle for who eventually gets them.
If it’s about the jobs then I hate to say it, but Lancaster is just as entitled to an equal number of credits as Palmdale is. As a layperson it eventually boils down to how many credits per job are use for a given project.
The PHPP uses a lot of credits to sustain 35 permanent jobs.
The BYD factory will use an equivalent number of credits and produce 150-300 permanent jobs.
The Japanese Rail company going in Palmdale will also require a lot of credits and produce 150+ permanent jobs.
How we use the available carbon credits needs to be optimized for jobs in this community – no other options are viable when you have 13+% unemployment rate.
Newman says
Right next to Plant 42. Wow. What do the Defense Contractors that of this?
Imfortruth says
Wow, a WHOLE 35 permanent jobs for highly skilled people. So people from OUTSIDE the area will be getting these jobs most likely. And how about those carcinogenic s that are going to be spewed from the stacks? That’s going to make our area healthy? Really? Cancer is healthy? Ledford & his dishonest city council are all full of crap. You steeple who buy the fact that this is a good thing are wrong. Dead wrong.
yabbbadabba says
I agree that this is totally wrong. There’s no written guarantee as to jobs, and non-pollutants to suit me and other that I know. We all know that more than 35 permanent jobs are needed. But you’re correct in stating that the jobs will be filled by people that do not reside locally. I wonder if this is why Ledford had a heart attack as he is not getting his way….not meant as a mean statement either. I cannot believe the people in Palmdale are buying the lies. It’s outdated, a pollution maker and not designated in a safe area. No, no to the power plant in Palmdale!