Department of Water Resources
A daily compilation for DWR personnel of significant news articles and comment
August 7, 2008
1. Top Items -
Coastal Commission approves proposed desalination plant in
The
REGION: Desalination plant wins Coastal Commission decision
Desalination plant plans OK'd
Plant To Make Drinking Water From Sea Approved: Construction Slated To Start In 2009
NBC San Diego- 8/7/08
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Coastal Commission approves proposed desalination plant in
The
By Tony Perry, Staff Writer
The California Coastal Commission voted Wednesday to approve a controversial $300-million proposal to build a desalination plant at the Encina power plant facility adjacent to the beach in
"I think it's time to move forward, to take decisive action, " said commission Chairman Patrick Kruer.
The desalination plant, to be built by the Poseidon Resources Corp. of
The proposal was backed by seven local mayors but opposed by several environmental groups and San Diego City Atty. Michael Aguirre. Aguirre, at the commission's meeting in
The commission tentatively approved the project in November but with 22 conditions involving finding ways to minimize damage to fish and plants and to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases emitted by the salt-water-to-fresh process. A majority of commissioners agreed, in a series of votes, that the company has satisfied the conditions.
Promoters of the for-profit venture are hoping to provide at least a partial answer to
With scant groundwater resources, nearly all of the region's water is received from the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and from a deal that allows the county to buy some of the Imperial Irrigation District's share of the
The issue now goes to the state Lands Commission before construction can begin.#
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-desal7-2008aug07,0,6990386.story
REGION: Desalination plant wins Coastal Commission decision
By BRADLEY J. FIKES , Staff Writer
The landmark decision sends the project on to the California State Lands Commission, which meets Aug. 22. If approved there, construction of the $300 million plant is expected to begin in the first half of next year.
Supporters said the plant at the Encina Power Station will add a much needed reliable source of water for the county, which, like the rest of
Opponents warned during the daylong and sometimes emotional hearing that approval will bring lawsuits. Environmental and public interest groups spearheaded the opposition, saying the plant would harm the environmentally sensitive Agua Hedionda Lagoon.
Hundreds of people attended the hearing on the plant, to be built by Poseidon Resources Corp.
"This was a historic decision by the Coastal Commission," said Scott Maloni, a Poseidon vice president. "This decision moves us one step closer to building the most technologically advanced and energy-efficient desalination plant in the country."
Wednesday's hearing mainly concerned two plans that Poseidon had submitted to meet commission staff objections to the proposal. The first plan requires Poseidon to offset extra greenhouse gas emissions caused by the energy the plant will consume. The second commits Poseidon to restore wetlands similar to those near the plant, at a location to be later determined.
The commission had given the plant conceptual approval last year, but commission scientists disagreed with Poseidon about the amount of extra greenhouse gas emissions, and asked Poseidon to restore as much as 68 acres of wetlands, up from 42.5 acres in Poseidon's proposal.
Poseidon said it reserves the right to challenge the staff-imposed changes later, but didn't oppose them.
After extensive discussion, the commission approved the greenhouse plan on a 10-2 vote. The wetlands plan was approved on a 11-1 vote with the wetlands restoration requirement set at 55.4 acres.
In casting the lone no vote on the wetlands plan, Commissioner Sara Wan said details of the restoration plan would not be available for 24 months.
Despite the changes, opponents said the commission violated the law in approving the plant.
San Diego City Attorney Mike Aguirre said residents of the city of
Environmental attorney Marco Gonzalez, speaking for the Surfrider Foundation and San Diego Coastkeeper, also objected to the commission's process. He urged the commission to reconsider the entire project.
But elected officials such as Carlsbad Mayor Bud Lewis and Carlsbad Councilwoman Ann Kulchin spoke in favor of the plant.
San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders said the plant was important to increasing the reliability of the entire county's water supply.
Oceanside Councilmen Rocky Chavez and Jack Feller also urged approval of Poseidon's plans. Chavez said the plant was needed for economic security. Feller said it is also necessary for public safety, to ensure a sufficient supply of water.
During discussion of the greenhouse gas plan, opponents claimed that the plant's energy consumption would accelerate global warming. Supporters said Poseidon's plan adequately addresses the issue.
The second plan, to restore other wetlands, also was attacked by opponents of the desalination plant, who said Poseidon's plan was inadequate and not based on environmental science.
Keith Lewinger, general manager of the Fallbrook Public Utility District, said the
Gary Arant, general manager of the Valley Center Municipal Water District, said the plant is needed to help bring relief to his district's agricultural customers. They are now under a mandatory 30 percent reduction in water deliveries due to drought.
"The longer it takes to bring this project on-line, the more perilous our situation becomes," Arant said.#
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2008/08/06/news/sandiego/zb16142ed111f88688825749d005dee37.txt
Desalination plant plans OK'd
By Terry Rodgers
The decision came at the conclusion of a 10½-hour hearing in
“We must diversify our region's water-supply portfolio,” said San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders. “We cannot conserve our way out of the water crisis.”
San Diego City Attorney Michael Aguirre testified in opposition to the project, arguing that it was the wrong approach to solving the region's water shortage.
“The primary way to gain new water is through reclamation,” Aguirre said, referring to the process by which wastewater is converted back into drinking water.
A frustrated Carlsbad Mayor Bud Lewis urged the commission to make a speedy decision without adding new requirements “so we can get on with building the damn thing.”
The $300 million plant envisioned by Poseidon Resources Inc. of
Nine local water agencies have collectively contracted to buy the plant's entire output of drinking water.
Last November, the commission approved a construction permit for the project and attached 22 conditions.
The commission left unresolved the issues of how Poseidon would offset the plant's impact to marine life and its contribution to greenhouse gases linked to global warming.
The commission's resolution of those issues Wednesday set a precedent for how the agency will handle about 20 other desalination projects that could be developed along
Poseidon's plant would employ a technology called reverse osmosis, which forces seawater through a filtering membrane. Initially, the plant would share a seawater intake system now used to cool the Encina Power Station, which has been operating at the lagoon since the mid-1950s.
Encina's owners intend to phase out the water-cooled power plant and build one cooled by air. After the switch, the desalination plant would pump seawater directly into its system. #
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/northcounty/20080807-9999-1m7desal.html
Plant To Make Drinking Water From Sea Approved: Construction Slated To Start In 2009
NBC San Diego- 8/7/08
A proposal to remove the salt from millions of gallons of ocean water, and use it for drinking water and irrigation in San Diego County was finalized Wednesday by the state Coastal Commission.
Hundreds packed the meeting at
"We're putting in energy-recovery devices and other technology that will lower energy consumption by about one-third," said Scott Maloni of Poseidon Resources.
Joey Racano of the Ocean Outfall Group said desalination is simply not the answer to California's water woes. He urged everyone to conserve water and find other sources. Racano said new technology can help, but ocean water should be protected.
Ultimately, the commission approved Poseidon's proposals on both issues late Wednesday.
"Today’s historic decision by the Coastal Commission clears the way for the construction of one of the most technologically advanced and energy efficient desalination plants in the country," said Poseidon Resources’ senior vice president Peter MacLaggan.
Poseidon Resources plans to build the desalination plant next to Encina power station in
The project is on schedule to begin construction the first half of 2009 and delivering drinking water in 2011.#
http://www.nbcsandiego.com/greenisuniversal/17113295/detail.html
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