California Public Utilities Commission Makes a Bad Call for San Diego, Approves Natural Gas Power Plant in Carlsbad

LOS ANGELES (May 21, 2015) – The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) erred today by overruling its own staff’s recommendation and approving a giant pollution-emitting power plant in San Diego. By a vote of 4-1, the commission adopted a proposal by CPUC President Michael Picker, opening the way for construction of a large, polluting natural gas power plant in the city of Carlsbad despite the potential availability of cleaner and less costly alternatives. The administrative law judge who heard the case had recommended that the Commission wait for the results of a competitive auction that would have allowed energy efficiency and renewable energy the opportunity to displace the plant at lower cost.

Following is a statement from Sierra Martinez, Legal Director for NRDC’s California Energy Project, Energy & Transportation Program:

“It is extremely disappointing that the Commission chose to virtually bypass the entire clean energy auction that the Commission itself ordered. This leaves Californians footing the bill for another avoidable power plant and also sticks them with the harmful pollution that will be emitted into the San Diego air.”