Morro Bay (#1282)

Morro Bay is one of my favorite places along the Central Coast, mainly because of how Morro Rock (on my left) shapes the area, and because it’s a harbor town that has avoided becoming dominated by kitschy tourist stuff. The town initially grew as a harbor for agricultural products, later developed some fishing industry, and its economy now is mostly tourism and retirees.

Always notable when coming to the coast at Morro Bay are the three smoke stacks from a generating plant. The plant was always a mixed fact of life for local residents – an employer and a source of tax revenue for the city, but very questionable environmentally in an area with high environmental awareness. The plant (natural-gas) closed in 2014 and there are debates about what to do with it, including what to do about the smoke stacks. I tend to agree with those who argue that the smoke stacks are such an integral part of the landscape for the city that they should remain.

Sources:
www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/article39467643.html
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Morro_Bay%2C_California