There are the ear-ringing rumbles and roars. There are the mysterious plumes of smoke that waft over the neighborhood. If the California Energy Commission approves the permit for AES, the facility could run at full capacity for the first time in memory. These are big, big things. Then there are the sizzling summer temperatures.
Residents usually open their windows to let the ocean breezes cool their homes.
It's going to be bad. The plant has towered over the Huntington Beach coastline for nearly 40 years. Others have remodeled their homes to obstruct ugly views. Whenever the peaker plant goes on, residents call the Air Quality Management District to send someone to test the plume of smoke. This is little consolation to residents, who would prefer a full environmental review.