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NEW Futures Committee -- Frequently Asked Questions
Q: 1. What is LS Power?
Answer: LS Power Group is the company that purchased nine power generating
plants from Duke Energy on May 4, 2006 including the Morro Bay Power Plant.
Please visit their web site for full details.
lspower.com
Q: 2. What is the NEW Futures Committee?
Answer: The NEW Futures Committee is an ad hoc committee formed by the City
Council of Morro Bay. Please visit our web site for full details of our mission,
activities and plans. http://morro-bay.com/newfutures/
(same as
http://newfutures.morro-bay.com )
Q: 3. How is the work of the Committee going to benefit Morro Bay?
Answer: Our thinking is that by collecting and documenting the communitys
(citizen and business) ideas regarding the property, we can provide the property
owners with a clear view of how the community would like to see any available
land utilized. We would be taking an active role in designing our future,
improving the financial condition of our City and enhancing our quality of life
and the environment.
Q: 4. Why did the City Council establish the Committee?
Answer: To paraphrase our Mission Statement, the Committee is the method the
Council is using to reach out to stakeholders by establishing a two way
communications system to receive ideas and expertise for the community to insure
our Vision of the Future represents the diversity and requirements of the
community.
Q: 5. What is the Committees road map for completing the project?
Answer: The project plan it broken into three phases as follows:
Phase I Information and Data Gathering We are divided into four Working
Groups (Short Term Finance, Existing Site Research, Community Communication and
Regulation). We hope to complete this Phase by year [2006] end. Phase II Analysis and Consolidation Phase III Vision for the Future which will include recommendation and action
steps.
Q: 6. What plan does LS Power have for the future of the plant?
Answer: Their plan is to build a new and more fuel efficient plant generally on
the site where the existing tank farm resides. The company has made application
for various approvals and permits required to move forward and is attempting to
identify long term buyers for the power generated. This is a lengthy, time
consuming and expensive process. LS Power hopes to obtain approvals as quickly
as possible.
Q: 7. Are there opportunities for Morro Bay even if LS Power builds
a new plant?
Answer: Yes, there are three likely scenarios for the future of the plant. The
Committee will need to evaluate three options and alternatives which are
summarized as follows:
- A. No Change - Under this scenario the plant continues to operate under contract
with PG&E. This is the least likely possibility as the plant would be operating
at minimal profitably. However, this would still generate a significant
opportunity for the City as the tank farm area which is currently not being used
could become available.
- B. New Power Plant LS Power could make the decision to build a new and
efficient plant on the site and then demolish the existing plant. While LS Power
is moving forward with its application, LS Power has not made a decision on the
future of this plant as yet A new plant would likely be built at the location of
the existing tank farm. The opportunity here is that the property where the
existing plant resides could become available.
- C. Plant Closure The entire property could become available. The cost of
clearing the land would have to be factored into the overall value of the
property. With the plant out of operation, there would also be a possibility
that adjacent property owned by PG&E could become available (all or in part).
Q: 8. How big is the property and what kind of restrictions are
there on future use?
Answer: The property is approximately 107 acres in total some of which is
already being used by the City through easements. If a new plant is constructed,
it would occupy a substantial portion of the total. The 107 acres also include a
substantial amount of environmentally sensitive and protected areas. The Site
Working Group (part of the NEW Futures Committee) is preparing detailed
information which will be available on our
web site in the near future.
Q: 9. What suggestions has the Committee received so far?
Answer: Not many, we are just starting
the idea collection process. The City
Council hosted a town hall meeting last October. Suggestions received at that
meeting are listed on our web site. A community
workshop is scheduled for
Saturday, September 30, 2006 where we hope to receive a lot of ideas and
suggestions.
Q: 10. Who will pay for improvements to the site?
Answer: It is too early to tell. We first need to define what we would like to
have on the property (and under which scenario). We can then look for ways to
accomplish our targets including the money side. Part of our thinking is to
include revenue generating opportunities for the City to help address budget
issues and community enhancement projects in the future.
1Q: 1. How much money does Morro Bay currently earn from the plant?
Answer: (Currently being compiled)
Q: 12. What is the timing?
Answer: Good question. The environmental approval and financing process that LS
Power has to go through is complicated. However, this is not new to them and
they are moving ahead. As a Committee, we would like to complete the data
gathering phase before year end 2006. At that point we will determine
appropriate time horizons for Phases II and III. An outline of our project plan
will be on the web site as part of our effort to provide information.
Q: 11. How do I keep up to date with Committee activities?
Answer: Follow our web site. It is new as of July 2006 so it may be a little
short in information right now. We have only been active as a committee since
March 2006. Information on the site will continue to grow.
Q: 12. How do I contact or provide my ideas to the Committee?
Answer: Please address questions and ideas to
our Yahoo Group:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/new-futures/ [and visit our website
at]
http://morro-bay.com/newfutures
Q: 13. Are any community outreach activities planned?
Answer: Yes. The date is Saturday September 30, 2006 at the Community Center from
11:00 am to 3:00 pm. This will be a workshop to gain information and provide
input. Save the date and watch our web site for details.
More FAQs
Q:
Where can I find more information about Morro Bay, CA?
A: Try the Morro
Bay City Government,
Morro Bay Chamber of Commerce,
morro-bay.com,
morrobay.com and see this
complete list of
related websites. Note to webmasters: If you add a link
to us (http://newfutures.morro-bay.com),
please let us know (e-mail mike [at} mikebaird d o t com) and if your site is
relevant, we will add you to the resource list above.
Q: Where can I see aerial
photos of the power plant?
A: See
aerial
photos taken by Morro Bay's own Red Truhitte.
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