I just can’t say enough good things about Bill Powers. I have had the privilege of working with Bill Powers on energy-related issues in the past and have always been impressed by what a rare combination of smarts and talent Bill possesses. What do I mean by that? Well, for starters, Bill Powers has great credentials when it comes to the issues of power plant operations and transmission. But what makes him truly amazing is his ability to communicate his knowledge and expertise in a way that an ordinary person (like me, for example) can understand.
And that is particularly important when the community is trying to understand the complexities of this state and federally required AES power plant conversion. AES must change away from the environmentally damaging once-through cooling process, but the company plans other changes as well. We applaud the disappearance of once-through cooling as the changes promise the return of marine life to the wetlands, including Alamitos Bay.
However, it is important we local community members, as well as others who care about the protection and preservation of wetlands, really understand the details of this conversion. We know some things, like the new power plant will likely be “on-line” more often because it will be more efficient to run it that way. But what will the ramifications of that increased run time be? Potential air emissions changes, noise and light changes, details about the proposed battery storage on the AES lot all need to be understood. There are lots of things to consider, and Bill Powers is sure to do a great job at helping folks sort it all out.
After all, once the AES conversion is completed, we will have to live with the results a long time. Who knows if or when AES will ever be modified or changed again? So let’s make sure we understand all that is involved in the conversion process so that we can do our part to make sure it is done right.
Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust Informational Meeting
Monday, March 2 at 7pm
Kettering Elementary School
550 Silvera St.
Special guest speaker: Bill Powers, an independent expert and respected analyst on issues relating to electrical transmission and power plant operations.
For more information, call (714) 357-8576 or email Elizabeth@lcwlandtrust.org .
Hope to see you on Monday, March 2nd! It will be time well spent. I guarantee it.
Elizabeth Lambe
Executive director
Los Cerritos Wetlands Land Trust
