You guys keep having issues - that I have experienced in my lifetime. HA!
I lived through the biggest contentious battle in the area's history. Never have seen the angst...vitriol...near violence (police had to be stationed at city council meetings - because of threats of violence). For twenty years - the fight to tear down the AES power plant was the biggest issue in Redondo Beach. 2010 - bar none - it would be torn down ...then, AES said if the city wants to pay $500 million. Sure. Then, absolutely, it will be gone by December 2020 - the plant will cease operations. No, didn't happen. Don't want to relive it - but, to address a couple of your comments - things that I learned:
Power plants are part of a grid system. Part of the anger - was the electricity that was being produced - didn't go to Redondo - or, even the local region! They either sold the electricity to other electric companies - or, depending on usage in other regions - it could be 110 degrees in the San Fernando Valley - so, the demand was greater there - and the electricity - being part of the greater grid - had to be produced to be sent up there! That is a very simplistic explanation but, hopefully, you get the idea.
Now, since I have moved - it has finally ceased operations. I guess. However, technically, it could be powered up again - if needed in the grid system. It still hasn't been torn down. Now, the community will argue about it over the next twenty years - what needs to be built in that location! 25 years ago -when they thought the power plant was going away - like tomorrow - some wanted a "Village" plan - mixed use. Some argued for a "Park" plan.
https://www.dailybreeze.com/2024/01/...in-the-future/
This one gives you a good understanding of the grid system:
https://spectrumnews1.com/ca/la-west...ations-to-2023
https://www.thelog.com/local/redondo...-through-2023/
https://www.latimes.com/environment/...-boiling-point