Title 22 - Historic Preservation: The Smokestack at the Encina Powerplant has already met all of the criteria for historical preservation. However, due to Carlsbad legal code, the landowner (NRG) must agree to historical landmark status. NRG refuses to work with the Carlsbad Historical Commission. The multi-billion dollar company made a deal to destroy the landmark without considering repurposing the tallest building that will now ever exist in Carlsbad due to new civil ordinances. 

22.02.040 Definitions.
For the purpose of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the following meanings:
“Historic landmark” means any property or improvement, manmade or natural, which has special historic, cultural, architectural, archaeological, or community interest or value as part of the development, heritage or history of the city, the State of California, or the nation, and that has been designated as a historic landmark pursuant to this title. “Historic site” means any parcel or portion of real property which has special character or special historic, cultural, archeological, paleontological, architectural, community or aesthetic value. (Ord. NS-433 § 2, 1997; Ord. NS-141 §1, 1991; Ord. 9835 § 1, 1987; Ord. 9776 § 1, 1985).

22.06.030
...Without the property owner’s consent to the proposed designation, a site shall not be designated a historic site or landmark.
  • NRG continues to refuse to even consider any denotation of historic landmark on the site. Our preservation community suggests the status for the chimney only. An icon as memorable as the many examples listed on this page should not disappear due to greed from a multi-billion dollar corporation. With your help (see: how you can help) we can defend our community as the Londoners did to save the Tate that became a center of London tourism, the people of Mt. Vernon did to save the Tulip Tower that became the center of their city crest, the Bostonians that did to save the Haffenreffer Chimney that became a symbol of the history of the city, and so many more. ​

In addition, any enhancements proposed can clearly meet the following criteria for a historic landmark:
  • Protect and enhance the city’s historic attractions for residents, tourists and visitors and serve as a support and stimulus to business and industry;
  • Strengthen the economy of the city;
  • ​Promote the use of historic districts and landmarks for the education, pleasure and welfare of the people of the city.
On Dec. 11, 2018, the Encina Power Station was put into "retired" status and officially stopped operations.  Under an agreement approved by NRG, SDG&E and the City of Carlsbad in January 2014, NRG must tear town the old plant within three years of its retirement. 
A cursory look around this site offers a myriad of examples to improve to the existing façade of this structure, which has an industrial past with an endless opportunity for beautification. Our community of support does not want to maintain the smokestack as it looks, but preserve an icon and create a future as endless as the smokestacks that have saved around the world to momentous acclaim. A simple look at the Premiere Online Magazine of Carlsbad on Twitter provides a post with the same hashtags that would demonstrate the very definition of a historical landmark. #iconic, #histoical, #site, #powerplant, #visit, #icon, #carlsbad. The magazine promotes our #ICON as #history, something to #visit, and clearly an integral part of #carlsbad.   
Forever Carlsbad.
"Even though I am not a Californian, I hope the Carlsbad CA, smokestack stays, for it is an iconic historical landmark, for Carlsbad CA, and it can be seen from sea, land, and air. It is also a testimony to the past, of the hard work, that past generations built, in American architecture heritage. We cannot lose old architecture heritage, for future unborn generations, need to see, what America has built, in the past, whether it be cars, houses, that smokestack, and so on. As a West Texan, who proudly lives in Carlsbad, Texas, our smokestack (which is a smaller smokestack, leveling out at 110 to 130 ft) has been in place, since the 1920s at the San Angelo State Supported Living Center, mental health facility, in Carlsbad, Texas. Our stack is an icon, and when I see our smokestack from Hwy 87, or from the sky, I know home is close by, and that is a good feeling. Keep fighting for your/our American architecture heritage."
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Sincerely/Respectfully, JD
Carlsbad, Texas