Blog: AES Power Plant, Henry Waxman—Both Due For Closure

Three major political issues are weighing on the minds of voters in the South Bay this year. There’s the presidential election, of course. More specifically, the divisive debate over whether to maintain, modify, or close down the in Redondo Beach. Many residents have staked an opinion on the best interests of the future of the city. On a related note, for the third time in two years South Bay residents will be electing another Congressman, this time in a contentious race which pits a native son challenger, Manhattan Beach businessman Bill Bloomfield, against long-time LA incumbent Henry Waxman.

Waxman would like the AES power plant to be shut down. He is also appealing to an entirely new constituency, voters from Palos Verdes to El Segundo, a different temper of voters to his West LA base, to elect him for a 19th term in office. This unique race implements the much-needed reform efforts of Props 11 and 14, which instituted an open primary with a Citizens Redistricting Initiative. For the first time in over 30 years, Congressman Henry Waxman now must actively campaign to keep his seat in Congress, whereas in decades past the state legislature practically handed Waxman his district and constituents without any trouble.

The AES power plant and the powerhouse Congressman Henry Waxman have many things in common.

They are both very powerful fixtures in their respective environments. The power plant in Redondo Beach is one of 132 plants which AES owns throughout the world. This plant provides energy for homes and businesses in the surrounding region. Like the LA-based Congressman, the power plant has a long and storied history, changing owners yet never closing down. Waxman has changed district representation, ever so slightly over the last three decades, yet not once has he faced a serious challenge to his standing in Congress. He is also a powerful machine politician who has helped energized local and national elections in the West LA area.

Both have been heavily involved in the growing conflict between going green as in “expanding the environment” versus going green as in “expanding the economy”. The AES plant is at the crossroads between city activists who want a more appealing and welcoming waterfront, and the city leaders who want to improve their city without going to court over it. The desire for green energy and green living space can converge or diverge in this political issue. Henry Waxman has promoted legislation, which in the best of intentions was supposed to protect our water ways, yet has in fact created more tension between property owners, the state, and the federal courts.

Both take up a lot of space and blow a lot of hot air. The AES power plant by its nature must generate heat in order to create power for others. Congressman Waxman creates heated controversy, yet his power has done little to serve the voters. Waxman has spent a greater part of his tenure in Congress going after Big Tobacco or Steroid Use, with nothing to show for the poorly spent time and energy, besides witnessing Congressman Waxman make himself the center of attention in Washington politics. Like the smoke-stacks which block the ocean view along the Redondo Beach waterfront, the “political smoke stack” Henry Waxman may block the best interests of individual liberty and private enterprise in the South Bay.

The most telling and compelling comparison between the AES Power Plant and Congressman Henry Waxman: Both are long-overdue for downsizing and closure. While the AES plant can implement innovation, taking up less space and providing more energy, Congressman Henry Waxman merely takes up space in Congress, pursuing inane and harmful legislation like Cap and Trade and ObamaCare. While the AES operators are willing to work with the community to improve the well-being of the region, Congressman Waxman is a resolute partisan who has done nothing to pay down the national debt, cut the annual deficits, and dysfunction hurting this country.

Like many of the residents of Redondo Beach, Independent candidate Bill Bloomfield wants the AES plant to close, but he also wants to close down the 38-year tenure of Henry Waxman. Bloomfield's candidacy will provide solutions to our nation’s vexing problems—which will only get worse without principled bipartisan compromise. Unlike Waxman, who is an unknown to the South Bay, Bloomfield is a resident of the Beach Cities, an independent who cares about our physical and our fiscal environment, whose policies will protect the green on our lawns and in our pockets.

Besides the NoPowerPlant.com, I would like to draw attention to another petition for the residents of the Beach Cities:

Waxman Watch -- waxmanwatch.blogspot.com. Learn more about the harmful positions and policies of long-time politician Henry Waxman.

The residents of 33rd Congressional district—from Palos Verdes to El Segundo, and our fellow constituents North of Dockweiler Beach—deserve clean air, clean water, but most importantly a political culture free of perpetual power seekers. Please support the principled closure of the AES Power Plant and Congressman Henry Waxman. Vote for Bill Bloomfield for the 33rd Congressional District.