REDLANDS >> A protest led by the local Sierra Club on Sunday marked Asthma Awareness Month by drawing attention to a power plant they say helps make Southern California among the nation’s worst for asthma and other pollution-related problems.
About 50 people gathered next to the Mountain View Power Plant on Redlands’ northwest side, a Southern California Edison plant that emits about 1.85 million metric tons of carbon dioxide a year and is the highest-polluting power plant in the state, according to a 2013 study.
“The solution is renewable power, which we’ve been encouraging, but Edison hasn’t listened,” said Javier Hernandez, a Sierra Club spokesman.
Many protesters brought inhalers with them, reflecting the high number of asthma sufferers in the area. San Bernardino County’s Department of Public Health — which was not affiliated with the protest — noted when Asthma Awareness Month began May 1 that asthma was among the most common serious chronic diseases in the county and that the county has one of the highest numbers of children diagnosed with asthma in the state.
Southern California Edison supported the protesters’ free speech rights, but couldn’t add much more until today, said spokesman Robert Laffoon.
“Obviously we’re fully supportive of people coming out and expressing their views,” Laffoon said. “They didn’t engage our folks in any way, so I don’t have any details on any of that stuff (the protesters’ claims).”
In response to a previous protest, company officials said the Redlands plant was among its most efficient in Southern California, which is why its volume was so high.
The group gathered across Mountain View Avenue from the power plant included two Democratic candidates for the 31st Congressional District, which represents the area.
“I’m very glad to see so many people braved the heat to come out here today to make a stand,” said Eloise Gomez Reyes, a Colton-based attorney. “This is the most polluting plant in the state, and something needs to be done.”
As for what specifically needs to be done, she said she would defer to the Sierra Club.
“I fully support what they’re asking for,” she said. “Of course if I’m elected to Congress, I can do more there.”
Joe Baca, who represented a San Bernardino-based congressional district until he lost in 2012 after redistricting, listed several environmental stances he’d taken while in office and said Redland’s mayor — and Democratic candidate for the 31st Congressional District — should have dealt with the power plant earlier.
“Pete Aguilar should have done something about this,” Baca said. “(Aguilar) could have had AQMD take a look, see what other alternatives there are, because this is affecting people’s health.”
Aguilar said, “Joe Baca has a lot of nerve complaining about our air quality when he voted with Republicans to oppose environmental laws to protect our air and water, and delayed efforts to reduce air pollution.
“ I’m deeply concerned about the air quality in our region. That’s why I helped lead efforts to adopt the Redlands Climate Action Plan, and recently joined concerned citizens in bringing attention to the pollution from the local power plant and the need for increased federal investments in renewable energy technology”
A 2013 report by Southern California Edison outlines what it calls “stringent standards for emissions”at the Mountain View plant, which are maintained by the South Coast Air Quality Management District, among others.
The combined cycle plant technology at the plant generates 1,050 megawatts of power when weather is good, according to the report.
