More smog than expected from Escondido power plant possible
By: North County Times | ∞
ESCONDIDO ---- The new Palomar Energy power plant in Escondido may need to emit more smog-generating chemicals than originally planned when it was approved by state authorities in 2003, the plant's operators say.
San Diego Gas & Electric is asking the county's Air Pollution Control District for a one-year exception to rules governing how much nitrogen oxides the power plant can produce while its turbines are starting up.
A public hearing on the request was originally scheduled for 9 a.m. today (Thursday) at 1600 Pacific Highway in San Diego, but was postponed until April 27.
Palomar Energy's petition asks that during startup, Palomar's two natural gas-driven turbines together to be allowed to make 450 pounds of nitrogen oxides per hour, instead of a previous limit of 200 pounds per hour. It also asks for extra startup time, beyond the permitted two hours.
SDG&E engineers are working on ways to cut the emissions, according to company spokesman Ed Van Herik.
He stressed that the company doesn't expect Palomar Energy to surpass its annual limit on nitrogen oxide production.
"It's just that the emissions will be distributed differently throughout the year," he said.
When it was approved by the California Energy Commission in 2003, the plant was allowed to emit 104 tons of nitrogen oxides per year. However, the company hasn't told air pollution regulators how much extra it expects to produce this year as a result of the variance.
Nitrogen oxides are byproducts of burning both natural gas to drive steam turbines and burning gasoline in car engines. Cars and trucks are by far the largest sources of nitrogen oxides in San Diego County, producing more than 170 tons a day.
When nitrogen oxides mix with volatile organic compounds ---- also produced by burning natural gas or gasoline ---- in the presence of sunlight, they form ozone, the main lung irritant in smog.
Contact staff writer Quinn Eastman at (760) 740-5412 or qeastman@nctimes.com.
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