We need to know what we're breathing. That's why, when the Metcalf Energy Center was approved, San Jose and Calpine agreed to install air monitoring stations - one north of the plant, one south - to address concerns that the plant's emissions would hurt South County's air quality.
Those concerns are valid. Prevailing winds are southerly, meaning that the bulk of the plant's emissions head toward Morgan Hill, San Martin and Gilroy.
Knowledge is the first step
The 600-megawatt Metcalf Energy Center is permitted to spew up to 124 tons of nitrous oxide and 589 tons of carbon monoxide each year. It's been open for three years, yet we have no idea what its presence has done to the air that we must all breathe.
Given that San Martin was found to have the worst air quality in the Santa Clara Valley earlier this year, installing those air monitoring stations needs to be a top priority of everyone in South County - including Morgan Hill Unified School District officials and staff.
San Jose officials have asked the school district for permission to install the northern air monitoring station on land at Los Paseos Elementary School. While Trustee Julia Hover-Smoot recognized that monitoring the air that students, faculty and staff breathe is a benefit for the school district, Trustee Kathy Sullivan worried about vague "dangers" from the station. Assistant Superintendent Bonnie Tognazzini said that staff believe that there's no incentive for MHUSD to cooperate.
Cooperation on installation
We urge district elected officials and administrators to cooperate with the installation of this monitoring station.
In addition, San Jose officials must live up to their commitment and revive plans to install a southern air monitoring station. In mostly rural South County, it's difficult to believe that an appropriate site can't be found.
We also expect that MHUSD officials will cooperate with the installation of the important southern monitor should San Jose officials find an appropriate site on school district land. Charter School of Morgan Hill and Burnett Elementary School have been mentioned as possible candidate sites for a southern air monitoring station.
It's been three long years without air monitoring stations. We live in one of the most environmentally aware regions of the country, if not the world. Let's work together to find out what we're breathing. Now.
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