Monitors to track air quality near South San Jose

Monitors to track air quality near South San Jose, Calif., power plant

By Rodney Foo, San Jose Mercury News, Calif. Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News

Equipment to monitor the air quality around the Metcalf power plant began going up Monday in South San Jose, apparently ending a battle between Calpine -- which is building the 600-megawatt, gas-fired facility -- and residents concerned about pollution.

"This is good news," said resident Issa Ajlouny, who has been critical of the plant. "But it's a shame we had to scream and holler for something we were promised years ago. This is good news -- but it didn't come easy." Residents north of the plant and city officials had been locked in talks with Calpine since 2001 over the interpretation of a controversial clause in the plant's construction approval, which had been granted by the state and city in the midst of an energy crisis.

Fearful of air pollution, the city called for Calpine to erect monitors to measure air quality. But the clause did not specify when the air monitors for carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides had to be erected.

With the plant off Monterey Road and south of Tulare Hill scheduled to begin operation in June 2005, residents worried there would be no baseline air samples to measure against how much pollution it would generate.

Neighbors also wanted Calpine to erect air quality monitors that would continually measure particulate matter, small particles of soot and dust that could lead to or aggravate respiratory ailments.

On Monday, Councilman Forrest Williams announced that temporary air monitors were being installed in Los Paseos Park. The equipment is expected to be in operation within two weeks.

He said the city is searching for a second air monitoring site south of the plant, and that Calpine has agreed to install equipment to measure air particulates.

"We are proud of our leadership in providing clean, safe and efficient electric power," said Mike Argentine, Calpine's director of development.

Said Williams, "There is consideration for the community -- I think that is the message."

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