California Plant Operator Fined $17 Million for Illegal Emissions

AES Corp. has been slapped with a $17 million fine as part of a settlement of charges that the power plant operator unloaded 700,000 pounds of illegal emissions into Southern California’s air during the third and fourth quarters of this year.

Under the terms of the settlement, AES Corp. has to pay the $17 million fine by July 1, in addition to installing new pollution controls on its three Southern California plants; operating the cleanest units at its power plants first, relying on the dirtiest only under emergency circumstances; and purchasing additional emission credits to make up for the current excess, or lose credits allocated to the corporation for 2001.

According to the South Coast Air Quality Management District, AES Corp.’s violation is one of the largest violations in 25 years.

Officials at AES Corp. claim the current power drought in California pressured the company to violate emission standards to meet consumer demand.