On February 3, 2010 the Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD) issued a Preliminary Significant of Determination permit (PSD) to the Russell City Energy Center (RCEC), A Calpine, LLC.
The proposed 600 megawatt Natural Gas Fired power plant would be located approximately 1.5 miles west of the Hayward Executive Airport (HWD).
The PSD permit is required due to the size of the power plant and the City of Hayward is in non-attainment or does not meet all the air quality standards of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
CALPILOTS filed an Appeal to the Environmental Appeals Board (EAB) in Washington, D. C. on March 22, 2010.
CALPILOTS argues that pilots and passengers, as sensitive receptors, would be required to fly into the exhaust plume and be exposed to, but not limited to very high temperature emissions, and visible vapor plume. And that all of these issues would have adverse health effects to pilots and passengers, and would affect a pilot’s ability to control an aircraft. The high velocity of thermal plume would also affect the stability and control of aircraft.
The proposed location would place the power plant directly under the traffic pattern for runway 28L/10R at Hayward Airport. This traffic pattern is the lowest in the county, at 650′ MSL, due to the proximity of the Oakland International Airport to its northwest and its arriving air carrier traffic.
