March 18 2003

By Shadi Rahimi

Alternatives to Mirant Corp.'s proposal to build a new 540-megawatt power plant at the foot of Potrero Hill will be discussed at a community meeting March 20.

The Georgia-based energy company – which currently operates four generators on the site – has argued the new plant will allow the closure of Pacific Gas and Electric Co.'s dirty Hunters Point plant (see "Potrero Poison," 3/14/02).

Mirant has asked for more time to make its case for building the new plant (see "Power Plant Politics," 3/05/03). In doing so it has provided the community with the "opportunity to put a nail in [the proposal's] coffin," Potrero Power Plant Citizens Advisory Task Force member Steven Moss said. At the meeting the task force will update the public on the proposal's status and will review alternatives outlined by the city's Electricity Resource Plan.

The city is also researching where to locate three small backup plants given to it as part of a state settlement with Williams Corp. over price gouging. Task force chair Philip DeAndrade said he's concerned about the impact of putting the plants in residential neighborhoods. "We want to know what the implications are for our community," he said.

Representatives from Mirant, the City Attorney's Office, the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, and 12 community groups have been invited to attend the meeting.

The community meeting, sponsored by the Potrero Power Plant Citizens Advisory Task Force, takes place Thurs/20, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Neighborhood House, 953 De Haro, S.F. (415) 554-6075.