The smoke stack and the rest of the Encina Power Station have been demolished.
What does this mean for Carlsbad?
Before agreeing to support the approval of the new plant, the city negotiated an agreement with NRG and SDG&E to help ensure the project would provide the greatest local community benefit possible.
Some of the provisions of this agreement include:
A guarantee that NRG will completely decommission, demolish and remediate the old Encina Power Station site within three years of Encina’s retirement, at no cost to taxpayers.
NRG will turn over to the city several pieces of property surrounding the lagoon and the blufftop across from the plant. NRG will work with the city and the community to create a plan for the site’s future use.
What can go on the site?
The General Plan envisions redevelopment of the Encina Power Station, as well as the adjacent SDG&E North Coast Service Center, with visitor-serving commercial and open space uses to provide residents and visitors enhanced opportunities for coastal access and services, reflecting the California Coastal Act’s goal of “maximizing public access to the coast.”
The Great San Diego Blackout of 2011
The full collection of Smokestack photos:
Carlsbad was incorporated in 1952, after a local citizen driven initiative requesting annexation to Oceanside. This led to counter move by other citizens to incorporate.
None of this was initially proposed by Oceanside but rather some citizens who approached Oceanside requesting annexation by using the power plant tax base as an draw. Within months there were 3 ballot votes, annex to Oceanside, incorporate, or maintain status quo.
The final result was the incorporation of Carlsbad. The power plant/smokestack was constructed in 1954, and the taxes from it enabled us to form a city, raise bonds, and connect to the Colorado water project.
So every time someone looks at the power plant and complains about it, remember, without it, the city wouldn’t have had the money to become what it is today.