Residents decry what they call a lack of public notice and cite fears of emissions from facility half a mile from homes.
Plans to begin installation of a 47-megawatt peaker plant on the outskirts of Ladera Ranch in January were put on hold Thursday because of a last-minute protest by residents.
Almost all of the approximately 65 Ladera Ranch residents who crowded into a conference room at the Santa Margarita Water District said they had only recently heard about San Diego Gas & Electric's plan to contract with Wellhead Power Margarita to build a natural gas plant. It would be built at an existing SDG&E substation off Antonio Parkway at Avendale Boulevard to provide power during peak periods.
Residents who attended contend public notice of the project was inadequate. They also fear toxic emissions from a power plant located less than a half-mile from homes.
Like many of the residents who attended the meeting, one of two held Thursday, Curtis Gilbert said he had received no information prior to a community e-mail earlier in the week.
"I think the process hasn't really informed the public about how we're affected," Gilbert said. "This a big decision, so no one really likes this being decided for them without having an opportunity to understand the facts."
Wellhead President Harold Dittmer said he was horrified to hear so few people knew about the project despite a community meeting in July and coverage of the issue in a variety of publications.
"We are not going to start construction the first week of January out of respect to the community," he said.
"It wouldn't be appropriate for us to do that, so we're going to hold off and attempt to answer the community's questions and meet as many of their concerns as possible."
LINK TO ORIGINAL ARTICLE AT OCREGISTER.COM
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