Adaptation

If you've been on the Southern California coast, this shot should feel familiar. The aqua-green surf rolling in long, foamy swells. The clusters of deep green seaweed rotting on the sand, stinking up the entire cove. A electricity generating facility churning warm water out into the chilly Pacific.

Yep, nothing says "So Cal Beach" quite like a power plant (well, nothing except these guys). And today we rolled through or by three of these. El Segundo's natural gas facility, in LA; NRG's Encina plant, north of San Diego; and the San Onofre nuclear generation station between the two. While San Onofre has...oh, what's the best way to put it...the most recognizable profile of the three, Clean Skies News photojournalist Ian McAllister and I spent the most time at Carlsbad. And with good reason.



Here's a look at my interview this morning with Steve Hoffmann, NRG's Senior Vice President and Regional President, West. That's NRG Communications Manager David Knox in the pink shirt, keeping an eye and ear on the proceedings. Among our topics of discussion, the potential ramifications of rolling back California's clean-energy regulations and the emphasis NRG is now putting on renewable energy (especially solar).

The subject that really sticks with me, though, is the "history lesson" Steve shared with us as we walked through the plant's de facto photo gallery (1952-1984). The Encina Power Plant has adapted remarkably well since started generating electricity in 1954. What started as burning oil to turn a turbine or two has evolved into a 965-mw natural gas-burning plant with five turbines. This is a shot of Ian and me on the generation floor, which was as spotless as Steve had promised.



So, thanks to the switch from oil to nat gas, the Encina plant is emitting far less CO2 and providing less expensive electricity to So Cal. Driving that point home today? This was one of the hottest days of the year in California, 98 in LA and 80's in San Fran. That means one of the biggest electricity demand days of the year, since everyone wants their air conditioning, right?

And of you don't have AC? Well, as you cool yourself in the surf you might still appreciate the Encina Power Plant and the way it warms this wet section of the Carlsbad coast.