A report from the Palm Springs Sustainability Commission's energy subcommittee prompted a question this week as to whether Assembly Bill 1813 will benefit the Coachella Valley.

During the commission's Tuesday meeting, Commissioner Mark Nichols, who serves on the energy subcommittee, referred to a city press release that was dated May 7.

The press release was written as an announcement about a May 8 news conference at the Wintec wind farm. Palm Springs Mayor Steve Pougnet spoke during the conference in support of the bill, which was introduced by Assemblyman Manuel Perez.

If passed, the bill would create 350 jobs during construction of the CPV Sentinel Standby Power Project on 37 acres at Dillon Road near Highway 62. However, officials from Perez's office said Tuesday they were not sure how many permanent jobs the project would generate.

The city's press release stated: "AB1318 is essential to the future development of clean and alternative energy generation in the Coachella Valley because it will provide the ability to increase harnessing of renewable energy at the proposed peaker plant while maintaining the highest emission standards."

Nichols took issue with that, saying, "I would like to know how."

The $900 million effort is privately funded by Silver Spring, Md.-based Competitive Power Ventures.

The plant would provide 800 megawatts of power, said Will Mitchell, an associate for Competitive Power Ventures.

But the power generated wouldn't necessarily benefit the area, Nichols said.

"What's being proposed is that a clean energy power plant be built in North Palm Springs with our (emission) credits, but all the energy will go to L.A. My reading of AB1318 makes no mention of clean energy in Palm Springs," Nichols said.

Rule 1309.1 in the bill also states that only 30 percent of mitigation fees from the purchase of emission credits would stay in the area that has this type of facility, to clean up toxins the plant may generate, Nichols said.

Nichols requested clarification from the city about the statement made in the press release.

When contacted by The Desert Sun this week, neither commission staff liaison Gary Calhoun nor Amy Blaisdell, the city's director of communications, offered clarification about the statement.