AES Announced Closure of California Natural Gas-Fired Plant

SEATTLE (Oil Monster):  AES Corp. announced that it has put an end to operations at one of its four remaining natural gas-fired power plants in the state of California. The company announced shutdown of its 1,300-MW Redondo Beach Generating Station as on 31st December, 2023. The facility has been operating at much less than full capacity over the past several years.

The official ceremony to mark the end of operations at the plant, which came into operation in 1954, was held on the New Year’s Eve. The decision to close the power plant was declared at the beginning of the previous year.

The recent new release by the company noted that the retirement of the plant represents a significant step towards a more sustainable and environmentally friendly future, not only for Redondo Beach, but also for the entire Santa Monica Bay. The company plans a smooth transition of the property this year itself.

The state authorities had ordered that all of the state’s natural gas-fired units that are cooled by ocean water be closed before end-2020, citing negative impacts to marine life. However, the regulators later approved extension of operating permits for AES plants following a series of power outages along the coast.

The company’s remaining three plants are in Ormond Beach Generating Station in Oxnard, the Alamitos Energy Center in Long Beach, and the Huntington Beach facility.