Council backs Magnolia Power Project

SOUTH SAN FERNANDO DISTRICT -- The Burbank City Council gave unanimous

approval Tuesday for the city to move forward as the construction manager

and operator of the $215 million, 250-megawatt Magnolia Power Plant.

The project is a partnership with six other cities, and helps to keep

Burbank from relying on outside sources for power, said Fred Fletcher,

Burbank Water and Power Department assistant general manager.

Fletcher said this will be "one of the lowest cost sources of power

for Burbank."

Final approval is expected from the California Energy Commission in

March and the project could break ground by the summer. The plant is

slated to be operating by late 2004 or early 2005 from BWP headquarters

at 164 W. Magnolia Blvd.