Calpine announced Thursday that an amended power-purchase agreement with PG&E was approved by the California Public Utilities Commission for the proposed Russell City Energy Center, a 600-megawatt power plant that would be placed near the Hayward shoreline.

That doesn’t mean the plant itself is approved. It has some of the required permits, but the main hurdle remaining is approval from the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, acting as a delegate of the federal Environmental Protection Agency.

The air district previously gave it the go ahead, meaning it didn’t find evidence that the plant would add significant amounts of pollution to the air, but that permit was revoked after a lawsuit on the grounds that BAAQMD did not follow federal guidelines for publicly noticing the permitting process.

The air district is currently reviewing and responding to public comments submitted regarding the permit. No time frame has been given in which a decision will be made.

We will have a larger story on this posted online Friday, running in Saturday’s paper.

Hayward power plant foe and recent City Council candidate “Redwood” Rob Simpson has a 1,000-strong forest of 2-foot-tall redwood trees on his Grandview Avenue lot that he’s willing to give away to anyone who wants to plant one.

Simpson’s been doing this for years, he said, and started because he felt “environmentally responsible” for driving a large car. He didn’t want to downsize his transportation – Simpson is a pretty tall guy — so he started giving away the trees as a mitigation measure. This batch will bring his grand total up to 31,000.

“I’m just spreading my seed,” Simpson said.

Anyone who wants a tree should contact Simpson at www.redwoodrob.com or 510-909-1800.

“Hello. This is the Hayward Police Department with an important safety message. We are currently working with the California Department of Fish and Game and the Union City Police Department to contain a mountain lion in the Chapel of the Chimes Cemetery. … The mountain lion has not been aggressive; however, we are taking precautions to help ensure the safety of residents in the surrounding areas. If you see a mountain lion, do not attempt to approach it. Get everyone indoors and call 9-1-1.”

So went an autodialer message to residents in southeast Hayward on Thursday, after a resident spotted — and an officer confirmed — a cougar walking the tree line adjacent to the cemetery.

Such sightings are not uncommon.  Police opted to take the precaution of letting residents know about the animal, which turned out to be a scaredy cat and ran off into the hills when given a bit of attention.

Thus, this, a couple hours after the first message:

“Hello. This is the Hayward Police Department with an important update. The mountain lion has been safely returned to his natural habitat in the hills. You may resume normal activities.”

Police advise residents who spot a mountain lion to get indoors and call 9-1-1. If you are the type who ventures into neighboring lion country (a.k.a. our regional parks and all that hilly open space to the east) here’s a Fish and Game brochure on the subject.

San Leandro and Hayward are early birds in the hunt for federal economic stimulus funds.

The U.S. Conference of Mayors went to Capitol Hill on Monday with 11,391 “ready to go” projects from 427 cities, including ones from the Cherry City (San Leandro) and the Zucchini City (Hayward). The projects total $73 billion, and would jumpstart 847,641 construction and project support jobs nationally in 2009 and 2010.

San Leandro’s $20.5 million proposal would create 155 jobs. The projects, their cost and the numbers of jobs include: citywide handicapped ramp improvements, $600,000, 10; senior center construction, $10 million, 60; water pollution control plan co-generation project construction, $4.6 million, 32; streets reconstruction, $2.5 million, 30; and improvements to the city’s sewer system, $2.8 million, 23.

Hayward, a bigger city, isn’t hesitating to ask for more money. Its $135 million list of projects would create 1,730 jobs. Projects, their cost, and number of jobs are: Hayward Executive Airport hangar construction, $6.5 million, 120; airport underpass roadway, $22 million, 250; pedestrian bridge over Union Pacific Railroad to link homes and Centennial Park in the Burbank cannery area, $2.5 million, 80; new main library, $30 million, 300; replacement of 150 traffic controllers, $1.5 million, 40; street light replacement program, $8 million, 150; improvements to waste-water treatment plant, $8 million, 200; new dispatch and records management system for police and fire departments, $3.5 million, 40; new Fire Station 7, $10 million, 100; street and drainage system improvements, $10 milllion, 100; and citywide road pavement replacement, including reconstruction of some streets, $33 million, 350.

The California Energy Commission, which has the final say in the construction of new power plants in the state, voted against allowing the Eastshore Energy Center to set up shop with a 115-megawatt facility near the Hayward shoreline.

While a main reason for the denial was its proximity to the Hayward Executive Airport (energy plants release hot plumes that stir up the air for low-flying planes), the decision also took into account that the plant does not fit into Hayward’s general plan for the area.

Local activists hail this as a huge victory, and the presiding commissioner Jeffrey Byron thanked everyone at the end for mounting a very informational, civil campaign. There were a lot of speakers at the Sacramento meeting this morning, and we’ll have more comprehensive coverage in tomorrow’s paper.

No, not that kind.

The Castro Valley Sanitary District is offering free reusable tote bags in support of the countywide Bring Your Own Bag campaign.

The bags are made of 80 percent post-consumer recycled plastic bottles, and officials estimate the average person will save 250 plastic bags a year when bringing their own reusable bag to go shopping.

BYOB give-away schedule (for residents of the Castro Valley Sanitary District only):

Rite Aid Pharmacy
9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 11
3848 Castro Valley Blvd.

Longs Drug Store
12:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 25
3667 Castro Valley Blvd.

Each event will last about three hours and supplies are limited.

Note to Hayward smokers: Time to start packing a measuring stick with your lighter and Camels.

As reported by Eric Kurhi in today’s Review, public puffing will net you a citation and eventual fine — unless you are 20 feet away from “public areas.”

How the new law will be enforced by police remains, to the say the least, cloudy.

Do you think the new law will deter smokers from lighting up in public?

Think you have to drive far to find a healthy alternative to that fossil fuel of a thing we call gasoline? Well, think again.

The Western States Oil Co. station in San Leandro, 2709 Teagarden St., has just recently started selling biodiesel (so I’ve been told). While most of its customers are commercial trucks, the station also sells biodiesel to a modest amount of noncommercial vehicles as well — and it seems to be gaining interest among Earth-conscious Bay Area drivers.

An official with the company says the biodiesel is more popular with customers at its San Jose station, but he said those who come to the San Leandro station travel from as far away as Berkeley. (To partake in the B99 biodiesel, you have to sign up on a user’s group.)

Apparently, there are nearly 20 other biodiesel stations between Santa Cruz and Fairfield, according to Biodiesel.org — the nearest one to this area being in Berkeley.

Could it be that Western States Oil’s San Leandro station is next up on the Bay Area’s biodiesel horizon? Or has it just been overlooked? I guess only time (and maybe gas prices) will tell.

If you live in San Leandro, today and tomorrow you are supposed to be leaving your car (or SUV) at home and opting to take public transportation — or, at least, forgoing filling up the tank (you know you don’t want to pay anyway, with gas prices so high).

This is at the urging of the City Council, which has declared June 18 and 19 “Dump the Pump” days.

The declaration falls in line with the city’s (especially the mayor’s) goal to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions and play its part in making the world a better place.

According to the American Public Transportation Association, more than 125 public transportation agencies participate in this event nationwide.

So put a smile on your faces (like the folks in the photo), San Leandro says, and play your part in not supporting the big oil companies (for one day, that is). If not, well, I guess that makes you a chump (only kidding).

Here we go:

What is your position on the stalled redevelopment plans for the South Hayward BART / Mission Boulevard corridor? What would you do about those plans and proposed development projects there?

LINDA BENNETT: I like the idea of a transit-oriented development but the one that was proposed was entirely too massive for the location. It is my understanding that the city is working on reevaluating these plans to make them more suitable for the area. Many people below the Mission Boulevard area have over the years expressed wanting a view of the hills preserved.

BARBARA HALLIDAY: Plans for development around South Hayward BART have been approved, and several developers have submitted applications or expressed interest. I will look carefully at each project to make sure it protects surrounding uses and makes a positive contribution to the area. I would like to see much-needed retail development built before more housing is approved.

OLDEN HENSON: I support the South Hayward BART Village Plan. It can be revised to include more open space. The plan calls for high-density residential in close proximity to BART station. It would allow transformation of Dixon Street into residential and shops. This plan is the principal reason Joe Montana invested in the old Perry and Key site. With appropriate site review, I would likely support forthcoming projects.

MARVIN PEIXOTO: The South Hayward BART plan is incomplete and neglects many important considerations that were voiced during the public hearings such as the lack of adequate open space and parks. But perhaps more important, there has never been a long term fiscal analysis to determine the huge increase in service demand for the project. Property tax alone won’t do it.

BILL QUIRK: We need to reexamine the corridor plan. I voted against the plan, because of faults in the plan and the failure to include much of the community in the planning. We need to determine what density will allow for walkable neighborhoods and then zone at that density. We also need more park space, and a plan to fund public services.

ROB SIMPSON: There’s great opportunity. Present plans lack imagination emphasizing housing not community. The area needs variety of services and amenities like the Bowling alley, Security and Green development. Politicians listen but they need to actually take some action on what they’re told from the community, not just developers/contributors. I’ll strive to revitalize Hayward for Hayward. Let’s do it together. www.redwoodrob.com

FRANCISCO ZERMEÑO: The Redevelopment of South Hayward BART/Mission needs to be revisited, tweaked, implemented. The idea of transit and pedestrian-oriented housing and retail is excellent. Needed are a grocery store, community center, restaurants. I would like to see a Senior Center, bowling alley, baseball batting cages, skating rink, adequate green space. We shouldn’t create a Mission Boulevard Canyon of tall buildings.