American Clean Skies Foundation Plans Alexandria, VA Mixed-Use Complex

American Clean Skies Foundation proposed a $450 million project in Alexandria, VA three weeks ago that would replace an existing coal-fired power plant along the Potomac River into a mixed-used development. According to a New York Times article, despite not owning the property or the plant -- and without a developer having yet made an offer to acquire and redevelop them -- the foundation spent over $500,000 on architects, environmental and real estate specialists, and even a public relations agency to produce and promote what it calls Potomac River Green. The plant site is owned by Pepco, a regional electric utility, which operates a substation there.

GenOn Energy of Houston, which operates the plant under a 99-year lease from Pepco, announced yesterday that it had decided to close the 62-year-old coal-fired Potomac River Generating Station. GenOn has agreed to retire the generating station by October 1, 2012, or, if the plant is needed beyond that date for reliability purposes, as soon as it is no longer needed.

"Today's announcement is a path forward for both Alexandria and the power company that works for everybody, and truly reflects the interest of both parties," said Alexandria's Mayor William D. Euille. "Both the Alexandria City Council and community have worked extremely hard toward this goal, and we are very proud of the final result. This news strengthens Alexandria's future and opens the door to an enhanced quality of life for our residents."

Enter American Clean Skies Foundation. "We've looked at opportunities across the states for repurposing coal plants," said Gregory C. Staple, the foundation's chief executive. "We want to accelerate retirement of those inefficient and unscrubbed. Alexandria stands out." The proposed project would include 89,600 square feet of office space, 114,500 square feet for retail and restaurant use, plus 467 multifamily and 96 town house units, a 125-room hotel, recreational and open space, a center for alternative energy start-ups and a museum of the newest power technologies.

Bob Hainey, a Pepco spokesman, said before Tuesday's announcement that "the entrepreneurs at Clean Skies asked for the opportunity to present their ideas to Pepco, and we plan to meet with them in the near future."

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