What Do You See as the Future of the GenOn Site?
The Potomac River Generating Station closed Oct. 1. Officials lauded the move, saying the plant’s retirement will bring an end to decades of harmful air pollution and health problems to the region.
The Potomac River Generating Station, or GenOn, closed this week. But after 48 years as a coal-fired plant, the 25-acre site is likely to require significant environmental remediation.
GenOn owns the lease on the site for another 88 years and must work with power company PEPCO, who owns the land, on how to proceed.
The City of Alexandria is beginning the first part of a long process to determine the future of the site that sits along the riverside.
RJ
2:42 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
Lets see. Potomac Yard closed in 1989, we are starting to see full development around 2014-2015. GenOn could be just as polluted, so I don't think we are going to see a brick laid until somewhere around 2030-2035.
matt tallmerq
4:18 pm on Wednesday, October 3, 2012
I could not agree more with RJ. The site was used to store and burn high-sulfur coal for nearly 50 years. It likely is a brownfield if not a Super Fund site. What developer is going to pay for those cleanup costs (which could be in the $300-$500 m range - depending upon soil contamination). And the City sure doesn't have that kind of money, especially after spending $457 M for the Potomac Yard Metro boondoggle. Yes, you read correctly, the new number is $475 M -- not the $250 M the City had discussed (promised).
G Hudgins
9:10 am on Tuesday, October 9, 2012
All the naysaying - is anyone surprised from all the bitterness this small community reputes of any CHANGE ? How about - GREAT news for beautification efforts for the largest land mass on the waterfront ! The next phase of Alexandria 2015 - forward, which will make it more of a world class beacon city as it greatly overlooks the Capitol, the Washington Monument, and our incredible Potomac, one of the most beautiful rivers in the US if not world. This site is just one of hundreds around the US which have cleaned up and moved on to become historic new landmarks. Let's try to be positive and proud of our next heritage and just poo poo any CHANGE.