[Water_news] 4. DWR'S CALIFORNIA WATER NEWS: WATER QUALITY - 7/28/08

Department of Water Resources

California Water News

A daily compilation of significant news articles and comment

 

July 28, 2008

 

4. Water Quality –

 

 

 

Desalting water and breaking new ground

The San Diego Tribune- 7/26/08

By Robert Gilleskie

Recently, Poseidon Resources Inc., the developer of the Carlsbad desalination plant, asked the California Center for Sustainable Energy to review its voluntary Climate Action Plan, which describes its strategy to render the plant carbon-neutral. After thorough, independent review by our energy and climate-change experts, we have concluded that Poseidon's strategy to render the plant carbon-neutral is sound.

 

In fact, Poseidon has broken new ground in its proposal; to the best of our knowledge, the plant will be the first major infrastructure project in the state to voluntarily eliminate its net carbon footprint. CCSE believes this project will advance the state's goals as embodied in AB32, California's ground-breaking Global Warming Solutions Act.

 

The overwhelming majority of the emissions associated with the desalination plant are “indirect” emissions; they result from the generation of electricity provided by the local utility. Implementation of Poseidon's plan will effectively cancel these emissions by incorporating energy-efficient equipment into the plant's design, installing a solar-power system at the site, revegetating lands in coastal North County, planting trees, and purchasing renewable energy credits.

 

In addition, the plant will make over 50 million gallons of drinking water a day here in San Diego. It will no longer be necessary to import this amount from Northern California, thus avoiding the energy use and carbon dioxide emissions attendant to pumping this water from distant sources.

 

Poseidon's use of the latest and most efficient desalination technology is evident, and its emphasis on plant efficiency as the first priority is consistent with good energy-management practice.

 

Also, the proposed solar photovoltaic system on a combination of available rooftop and covered parking area will provide throughout the year a consistent, measurable displacement of kilowatt-hours that would otherwise be generated locally during peak hours with mostly fossil fuel or imported from generating plants out of state.

 

Additionally, the proposed mitigation of 37 acres of wetlands in coastal North County will not only improve the ecology of the area; it will provide an effective carbon “sink” for the life of the project. And planting $1 million worth of trees in areas devastated by the 2007 wildfires will have the benefit of absorbing about 60 pounds of carbon dioxide per tree per year.

 

Finally, Poseidon will purchase renewable energy credits in support of “green” projects away from the site, such as wind turbines, to compensate for whatever carbon emissions remain.

 

Poseidon's voluntary commitment to make its Carlsbad project carbon-neutral is exactly the kind of environmental leadership we need from companies doing business in California. The project represents a terrific opportunity to ensure that appropriate mechanisms are in place to monitor, evaluate and learn from Poseidon's leading, landmark commitment.

 

Linking environmental responsibility with development, coastal or otherwise, must increasingly be part of our society's standard operating procedure as we move toward the second decade of the 21st century. This plant will not only provide an alternative, local source of future water supplies to San Diego County; it is also an example that should help set the tone for the implementation of AB32. #

http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20080726/news_lz1ez26gilles.html