With thunderous booms, the monstrous South Bay Power Plant crumbled into history, following a successful implosion along the Chula Vista bayfront on the morning of Saturday, February 2, 2013.

Just after 7 a.m., strategically placed charges brought the mammoth structure down before a crowd of thousands of residents, elected officials and the media.

For the first time since the late 1950's, Chula Vista has an open view to South San Diego Bay. The land can now be used for future parks, as designated by the Port of San Diego and the City of Chula Vista as part of the Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan.

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The Port of San Diego invites members of the public to witness a historic, long-anticipated event - the implosion of the South Bay Power Plant, which has been a fixture on the Chula Vista bayfront since the late 1950s.

•  South Bay Power Plant Public Invitation (523.83 kB)
•  Public Viewing Area Map (164.64 kB)

In a historic milestone for the Chula Vista bayfront, the obsolete South Bay Power Plant is scheduled to be imploded February 2, 2013, weather permitting – which will remove the mammoth structure and open up land that the Port of San Diego and the City of Chula Vista have designated for future public parks.

The implosion is scheduled for 7 a.m., Saturday, February 2, 2013, weather and other conditions permitting. A final decision on whether or not to proceed will be made that morning. The implosion will be carried out only under appropriate weather conditions, including wind speeds of 15 mph or less, as part of a comprehensive plan to protect air and water quality.

•  South Bay Power Plant Timeline (678.4 kB)

A minor amendment to the Coastal Development Permit for demolition of the South Bay Power Plant was recently approved by the California Coastal Commission.

The amendment, submitted by Dynegy South Bay, LLC called for a single implosion of the South Bay Power Plant's above-ground structures, rather than a previously approved two-phased implosion. The benefits include reduced noise levels, less need to re-route traffic in the immediate area and a shortened demolition schedule.

Dynegy South Bay, LLC, has submitted a minor amendment to its Coastal Development Permit for the demolition of the South Bay Power Plant to the California Coastal Commission.

The terms of the amended permit include one implosion rather than the previously approved two-phased implosion of the power plant's above-ground structures.

"The City of Chula Vista supports Dynegy South Bay's decision to amend its Coastal Development Permit," said Chula Vista Mayor Cheryl Cox. "Demolishing the power plant with a single implosion will expedite creation of an unobstructed view corridor for the residents of Chula Vista and moves us closer to creating a world-class resort and residential destination on our portion of San Diego Bay as outlined in the Chula Vista Bayfront Master Plan."