In the News
The DuPont Oakley Site was labeled the 'crown jewel' in the City of Oakley's long-term development plan several years ago. Since then, the DuPont Oakley site has been the subject of many newspaper articles. The following are representative excerpts taken from several of these articles that are of interest to our community.
Energy Commission comes to Oakley, Samie Hartley, The Press, November 12, 2009
“More than 100 Oakley residents came out to support the proposed Oakley Generating Station during the California Energy Commission’s first visit to the city this week [Monday, November 9, 2009]. ... More than 20 residents spoke in favor of the project, citing creation of jobs as the most significant benefit.”
“Steven Nosanchuck, president of the Oakley Chamber of Commerce, said the financial gains [of permitting and constructing the Oakley Generating Station] for the community are greatly needed. ‘It’s important to me to see Oakley thrive again. Like most communities in our country, Oakley has been hit hard by the current economic crisis. The power plan being discussed brings jobs to Oakley and much-needed revenue to our city coffers. We’re a small city. To be discussing property tax revenue in the ballpark of $10 million a year is very encouraging. It makes me much more hopeful about the economic future of our city.”
Around Oakley: Plans in the works for DuPont property, Roni Gehlke, Contra Costa Times, May 27, 2009
“Over the past few years, there’s been a lot of talk about the DuPont property and what a vital resource it is to the Oakley community. The main reason is that the property can house a substantial tax base, as well as quite a few jobs. The problem is that a project of this size takes a great deal of time and effort to complete.”
DuPont readies property for next phase, Paula King, Contra Costa Times, March 4, 2005
"[DuPont] has spent millions of dollars on its former site toward addressing past contamination and efforts to clean it up. City Councilwoman Carol Rios says that residents can look at all of the abandoned manufacturing plants along Wilbur Avenue in Antioch to understand the commitment that DuPont has made to Oakley. 'As the City of Oakley, we are especially glad that DuPont has it (the closed plant) because they didn't just leave,' she said at a community input meeting on Tuesday. ... At its peak, the plant employed nearly 600 people and city leaders now hope to transform it into a commercial and light industrial hub..."
Meeting to focus on DuPont cleanup efforts, Roni Gehlke, Oakley News, February 25, 2005
"DuPont, on the other hand, has been spending an exorbitant amount of money on cleaning up the Oakley site, as well as the underground contaminants. Again, there are those who say they should be doing all this because they caused the problem. But it's important to understand that, according to all official records, DuPont followed the letter of the environmental laws when they were in business here."
DuPont plant is development 'crown jewel,' Kevin Romick (It's all in the planning), Oakley Press, February 2004
"Presenting Oakley with many unique development opportunities for retail, light industrial and business park office, the 366 acres of the DuPont/Cline properties can be considered the 'crown jewel' of our city. ...these properties offer freeway access, railroad lines, power, natural gas, and water utilities. Plus it offers the aesthetically pleasing atmosphere of the San Joaquin River, the adjacent wetlands and nearby marinas."
Oakley's DuPont site considered for new uses, Paula King, Contra Cost Times, February 1, 2004
"'The vision for the DuPont area is really to become the job center for Oakley and this part of East County,' said former redevelopment director Ellen Bonneville... 'There is the ability to have up to 5,000 jobs there.'
'It's a place to attract the better-paying jobs that Oakley so desperately needs,' said (Kevin) Romick. 'There's a job and housing imbalance in all of East County. This is a way of providing thousands of jobs. For the most part, people are anxious to see what comes out of it.' "
Redeveloping with a nod to Oakley's rural roots, by George Avalos, Contra Cost Times, Special Section — Where We Live, The Delta, August 2003
"One of the biggest projects being championed by city officials could come at the 550-acre site once operated as a chemical factory by E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Co. ... 'We want to create a job center at the DuPont site,' said Ellen Bonneville, the city's redevelopment director. 'We can get jobs in there with retail...' Some of the amenities could be linked to the adjacent Delta waterways..."
Study on DuPont property plans for the future, Oakley Business Update, August 2003
"DuPont officials are working on putting together a marketing plan that will help them lease the property to business and light industrial organizations. The idea is to rebuild their property and bring business and employment to the Oakley area."
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