Why no rose? Seems clear: Oceanside’s Sanchez desal vote indicative of misplaced values, says editorial
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on February 15, 2010 at 6:22 amFrom the North County Times, this editorial:
“Oceanside City Councilwoman Esther Sanchez’s vote Wednesday on the California Coastal Commission was a good example of why we weren’t exactly thrilled when she was named to the commission late last year.
The California Coastal Commission was in town with an agenda that included a request by the Coast Law Group to revoke the Poseidon Resources Corp.’s previously granted permit to build the Carlsbad water desalination project. The environmental group accused the company of hiding some relevant data on the operation’s greenhouse gas emissions —- a charge the company disputed.
We happen to think it is worth pursuing the desal plant, which when fully operational will produce 50 million gallons of water each day for our thirsty region. And the company’s sin, if there was one, didn’t change most people’s opinion of the project, including the California Air Resources Board.
Desalination is an important piece of solving Southern California’s water problem.
Apparently, Sanchez doesn’t agree, as she declared Poseidon guilty of “an intentional lack of disclosure on a material issue” and voted on the losing side of the issue. … “
Read more of this editorial by clicking here.
State agency denies challenge to Carlsbad desalination project
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on February 11, 2010 at 6:10 amFrom KPBS:
“The California Coastal Commission voted 8-to-4 Wednesday to dismiss a challenge to the construction permit for a proposed desalination plant in Carlsbad.
The Commission denied the revocation request by Surfrider Foundation and San Diego Coastkeeper after a three-hour hearing.
The location of the recently-approved Carlsbad Desalination Plant.
Enlarge this imageIt was the second time in as many months that the coastal development permit for the plant faced a revocation hearing. Supporters and opponents of the project testified in person at the meeting or sent in letters.
Attorney Marco Gonzalez with the Encinitas-based Coastal Environmental Rights Foundation represented Surfrider and Coastkeeper in challenging the permit.
“One of the reasons we remain vigilant in our opposition to this particular project is because it’s precedent-setting,” said Gonzalez. “This is the first of many and we’ve learned how a project can go forward in a totally wrong manner. This is it.” … “
Read more from KPBS by clicking here.
Coastal Commission denies attempt to revoke Carlsbad desalination permit
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on February 10, 2010 at 4:29 pmFrom Poseidon Resources:
“San Diego, CA – The California Coastal Commission today voted to dismiss a request filed by opponents of seawater desalination to revoke the Carlsbad Desalination Project’s Coastal Development Permit (CDP). The vote marked the second time in as many months that the Commission rejected an attempt by a handful of opponents to revoke the permit issued to the project in November 2007. The Commission has now voted five times since 2007 to affirm its support for the Carlsbad Desalination Project.
Numerous supporters testified and/or submitted letters on behalf of the project, including the California Air Resources Board (CARB), which refuted opponents’ claims that Poseidon intentionally misrepresented and/or omitted material information from the Commission when it approved the Energy Minimization and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan in August 2008.
“Poseidon would like to thank the members of the Coastal Commission for rejecting yet another frivolous attempt to obstruct the ongoing construction of the Carlsbad Desalination Project,” said Poseidon Resources’ Vice President Scott Maloni. “We are also grateful to the California Air Resources Board for acknowledging our unprecedented and voluntary commitment to make the desalination project the first large-scale infrastructure project in the state to be net carbon neutral,” said Maloni.
The permit revocation request marked the tenth legal challenge brought against the desalination project by a small handful of seawater desalination opponents led by environmental litigator Marco Gonzalez. All legal challenges heard to date have been dismissed.
“We hope opponents will reconsider their choice to obstruct the project’s inevitable startup and instead opt to work with us in a constructive manner to ensure the project reaches its promise as the most technologically advanced, energy efficient and environmentally-friendly seawater desalination plant in the Western Hemisphere,” said Maloni.
Since 1998, Poseidon has worked in partnership with the City of Carlsbad, Valley Center Municipal Water District, Sweetwater Authority, Santa Fe Irrigation District, City of Oceanside, Rincon del Diablo Municipal Water District, Olivenhain Municipal Water District, Rainbow Municipal Water District and the Vallecitos Water District to build the desalination plant, which will have the capacity to produce 50-million-gallons-per-day of high quality drinking water and serve 300,000 residents annually. Phase I of project construction started in November 2009. During the two and half-year construction and start up, the project will create 2,100 jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars in economic stimulus. The facility is scheduled to be operational in 2012.
Poseidon Resources specializes in developing and financing water infrastructure projects, primarily seawater desalination and water treatment plants. These projects are implemented through innovative public-private partnerships in which private enterprise assumes the developmental and financial risks. For more information on Poseidon Resources and the Carlsbad desalination plant visit our website at www.carlsbad-desal.com.“
Carlsbad desalination project survives revocation attempt
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on February 10, 2010 at 4:28 pmFrom Groksurf’s San Diego:
“The California Coastal Commission voted 8-4 today against a motion to revoke the approval for the Carlsbad Desalination Plant.
At issue was whether the commission had earlier been misled about whether and how the project would be “carbon neutral.” Proponents of revocation said that Poseiden Resources misled the commission into believing that Metropolitan Water District (MWD) would reduce its imports from the State Water Project (SWP) although later information revealed MWD would NOT reduce its imports. … “
Read more from the Groksurf San Diego blog by clicking here.
Carlsbad desalination plant faces another revocation hearing
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on February 10, 2010 at 7:43 am
From KPBS:
“SAN DIEGO — Opponents of a desalination plant in Carlsbad want a state agency to revoke the project’s coastal development permit. A hearing on the revocation request starts Wednesday morning in Oceanside.
The desalination project is located at the Encina Power Station in the City of Carlsbad.
It’s the second time in as many months that opponents of the desalination project have asked the California Coastal Commission to revoke the plant’s coastal development permit. The first request was rejected by the commission.
Marco Gonzalez with the Encinitas-based Coastal Environmental Rights Foundation said Poseidon Resources did not submit certain facts about how the plant would offset greenhouse gas emissions. … “
Read more from KPBS by clicking here.
Coastal Commission Staff recommends denial of request to revoke Carlsbad desalination project permit; California Air Resources Board opposes efforts to revisit project’s GHG plan
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on February 9, 2010 at 5:55 amFrom Poseidon Resources, this media statement:
“San Diego – Poseidon Resources today announced that California Coastal Commission staff has recommended that the Commission deny the request made by opponents of seawater desalination to revoke the Coastal Development Permit for the Carlsbad Desalination Project. The Commission is scheduled to hear the revocation request when it meets in Oceanside, CA on Wednesday, February 10th.
Today, the Coastal Commission also received a letter [attached] from the California Air Resources Board (CARB) Chairman Mary Nichols expressing the agency’s continued support for Poseidon’s Energy Minimization and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan (“GHG Plan”). CARB’s letter concludes that there is no new information that would require the Coastal Commission to revisit the GHG Plan. The letter also refutes claims made by opponents that Poseidon intentionally withheld information from the Commission when it approved the GHG Plan in August 2008.
This is the second time opponents have petitioned the Coastal Commission to revoke the development permit that was issued to the desalination project in November 2007. The first revocation request was rejected by a super majority of the Coastal Commission in December 2009.
Poseidon Resources requests State Attorney General to enforce Coastal Commission regulations: California Environmental Rights Foundation violating Coastal Act regulations
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on February 6, 2010 at 12:43 pmFrom Poseidon Resources:
“San Diego – Poseidon Resources today announced they have petitioned [see attached letter] the state Attorney General and the California Coastal Commission challenging the legal standing of the Coastal Environmental Rights Foundation (CERF), an opponent of seawater desalination that has twice initiated proceedings to revoke the Coastal Development Permit issued to the Carlsbad Desalination Project.
Poseidon has requested the Coastal Commission Chief Counsel and the State Attorney General dismiss CERF as a participant in the Coastal Commission’s permit revocation hearing on February 10. This is the second time in as many months that CERF and other opponents of seawater desalination have requested that the Coastal Commission revoke the permit issued to the desalination project in November 2007. The first revocation request was rejected by a super majority of the Commission.
Coastal Commission regulations only allow revocation requests to be initiated by “person(s) who did not have an opportunity to fully participate in the original permit proceeding …” (Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, § 13106). CERF is a newly created environmental litigation organization first registered as a business in the state of California on October 17, 2008. Because CERF did not exist at the time of the original Coastal Development Permit hearing on November 15, 2007, they cannot now participate as a party to the revocation request. CERF’s participation is a violation of Poseidon’s procedural due process rights under the Coastal Act. Poseidon had previously requested the Coastal Commission dismiss CERF as a party to the first revocation request but the Commission did not address the issue at that time. Consequently, Poseidon has now asked the state Attorney General to engage the Costal Commission’s legal counsel.
“Project opponents, led by Coastal Environmental Rights Foundation litigator Marco Gonzalez, have a lengthy history of filing frivolous legal challenges against the Carlsbad Desalination Project,” said Poseidon Resources’ Vice President Scott Maloni. “CERF does not have the legal authority to initiate and participate in Coastal Commission permit revocation proceedings. CERF’s actions are an abuse of the Coastal Commission’s process and a violation of Poseidon’s procedural due process rights. We are requesting that the Coastal Commission enforce their own regulations and remove CERF as a party to the revocation proceedings prior to the February 10 hearing,” said Maloni.
Poseidon has worked in partnership with the City of Carlsbad since 1998 to build the desalination plant, which will have the capacity to produce 50-million-gallons-per-day of high quality drinking water. Once operational, the Carlsbad Desalination Project will provide enough drinking water to serve 300,000 residents annually. The facility is scheduled to begin construction in 2010 and be operational in 2012.
READ THE LETTER HERE: Letter – CERF Legal Standing 020310 (2)
Poseidon Resources specializes in developing and financing water infrastructure projects, primarily seawater desalination and water treatment plants. These projects are implemented through innovative public-private partnerships in which private enterprise assumes the developmental and financial risks. For more information on Poseidon Resources and the Carlsbad desalination plant visit our website at www.carlsbad-desal.com.“
Poseidon Resources’ Carlsbad desalination project reaches financing milestone
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on January 28, 2010 at 6:34 amFrom Poseidon Resources, this media statement:
“San Diego — Poseidon Resources today announced the California Debt Limitation Allocation Committee (“CDLAC”) has voted unanimously (3-0) to allocate $530 million in Private Activity Bonds (“PABs”) to the Carlsbad Desalination Project. CDLAC administers and allocates the state’s annual allocation of federal tax-exempt PABs for the financing of certain private development projects that benefit the public.
The allocation of PABs to the Carlsbad Desalination Project should lower the project’s debt service costs, which in turn will allow Poseidon’s public water agency customers to purchase water at a lower rate.
Every year, hundreds of private developers apply to CDLAC to utilize this financing structure. Since 2005, CDLAC has allocated billions of dollars in PABs to privately-owned companies in California. Projects have included industrial development, redevelopment projects, enterprise zones, facilities that treat water, sewage or hazardous materials, pollution control, solid waste reduction projects and low income multi-family housing.
Unlike municipal bonds that also carry a tax exempt status, Poseidon will solely be at risk to pay the principal and interest on the PABs. The state of California and the project’s public water agency customers bear no financial responsibility for the repayment of the bonds.
“Today’s action by the California Debt Limitation Allocation Committee is a major milestone in the financing for the Carlsbad Desalination Project. The allocation of Private Activity Bonds should allow Poseidon Resources to lower the cost of this new drinking water supply for San Diego’s ratepayers,” said Poseidon Resources’ Senior Vice President Peter MacLaggan. “The allocation of Private Activity Bonds clears the way for Poseidon to close project financing and move forward with full-scale construction of the plant,” said MacLaggan.
Poseidon has worked in partnership with the City of Carlsbad, Valley Center Municipal Water District, Sweetwater Authority, Santa Fe Irrigation District, City of Oceanside, Rincon del Diablo Municipal Water District, Olivenhain Municipal Water District, Rainbow Municipal Water District and the Vallecitos Water District to build the desalination plant, which will have the capacity to produce 50-million-gallons-per-day of high quality drinking water and serve 300,000 residents annually. Phase I of project construction started in November 2009. During the two and half-year construction and start up, the project will create 2,100 jobs and approximately $200 million in economic stimulus. The facility is scheduled to be operational in 2012.
Poseidon Resources specializes in developing and financing water infrastructure projects, primarily seawater desalination and water treatment plants. These projects are implemented through innovative public-private partnerships in which private enterprise assumes the developmental and financial risks. For more information on Poseidon Resources and the Carlsbad desalination plant visit our website at www.carlsbad-desal.com.
This story was reported in the papers: click here for coverage from the San Diego Daily Transcript; click here for coverage from the North County Times.
Rebuttal commentary: Desal plant foes not ‘fringe’
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on January 17, 2010 at 6:30 amFrom the North County Times, this rebuttal commentary by Joe Geever of the Surfrider Foundation to a recent commentary by Ted Owen of the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce:
“The Perspective article, “Enough is enough with desalination lawsuits,” written by Ted Owens and published in your paper Jan. 10 contains enough offensive inaccuracies that it demands a response. It is unfortunate that Mr. Owen, rather than focusing his comments on what he sees as merits of the Poseidon proposal, or the actual reasons why the project continues to be scrutinized and challenged by our state regulatory agencies, instead resorts to personal attacks.
It is completely inaccurate to characterize the scope of opposition to the project as “two fringe environmental groups.” Surfrider Foundation and San Diego Coastkeeper are local grassroots organizations that have taken a lead in challenging this proposal. But there is a growing coalition of organizations opposed to this poorly designed facility —- ranging from water management policy institutions to organizations representing the fishing community to groups protecting public health to environmental organizations like ours. The scope of concerns over this project, and the organizations opposing it can hardly be described as “fringe”.
Mr. Owen also characterizes us as “obstructionists” who are the cause of delays in the project’s final approval. … “
Read more of this rebuttal commentary by clicking here.
Desalination should be a last resort in our water portfolio, says commentary
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on January 15, 2010 at 6:39 amFrom the San Diego News Network, this commentary by Stuart Reznick, Executive Director of Coastkeeper, in response to the recent Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce Ted Owen’s commentary:
“Environmental groups challenging the Carlsbad Desalination Plant have recently come under attack for deeply scrutinizing the project, proposed as the region’s most expensive and energy intensive water supply option. As one of the environmental groups leading the charge, we’re clearing the air.
Truth Number 1: Our cases have merit.
Procedural deficiencies at every reviewing agency have marred the approval process for the plant. While some suggest we are engaging in superfluous lawsuits, this desalination plant will be the largest in the western hemisphere and may set precedent for all other projects. We must ensure it is as protective of our environment as possible. Yet, our regulatory agencies have taken an “approve first, ask questions later” approach that could lead to disastrous consequences.
Our efforts, and those of our partner organizations, have already improved the project dramatically by ensuring carbon offsets and wetlands mitigation to offset some impacts from the proposed project. … “
Read more from the San Diego News Network by clicking here.
Desal and “carbon”ated water: Coastal Commission should make the Carlsbad project offset all of its carbon impacts
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on January 11, 2010 at 7:52 amFrom the California Progress Report, this commentary by Jonas Minton of the Planning & Conservation League:
“Carbon emissions and water supply are two sides of the same coin. In California nearly 20 percent of our electrical energy is used to move water around the State, treat it for use and then treat it again for disposal.
All of that energy generation emits huge amounts of carbon to our atmosphere. So when Poseidon Corporation claims that its proposed desalination plant in Carlsbad will have a “zero carbon footprint” it may sound too good to be true. Well, that’s because it is.
In February the Coastal Commission will be reviewing the accuracy of information submitted by Poseidon for its permit to build the largest desalination facility in the Western Hemisphere in Carlsbad, California. The issue is Poseidon’s claimed CO2 offsets.
Ocean desalination is the most energy/carbon intensive way to provide water – even more than pumping water more than 400 miles all the way from Northern California, up over the Tehachapi Mountains and on to San Diego. Poseidon’s proposed ocean desalination plant would require 30 megawatts of generation. Producing this much energy would emit an additional 120,000 to 154,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year into our atmosphere. … “
Read more of Jonas’ commentary by clicking here.
Carlsbad legal challenge loses Surfrider Foundation
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on January 11, 2010 at 7:49 amFrom Desalination & Water Reuse:
“One of the two groups staging a last-ditch challenge to the Carlsbad desalination plant, Surfrider Foundation, has abandoned its legal challenge to the California State Lands Commission’s approval of the project.
In August, the San Diego Superior Court issued a final ruling upholding the State Lands Commission’s 2008 approval of the Project. The Surfrider Foundation and Coastkeeper jointly filed an appeal against the Court’s ruling in December 2009.
Coastkeeper remains the only appellant. … “
Read more from Desalination & Water Reuse by clicking here.
Enough is enough with desalination lawsuits, says commentary
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on January 10, 2010 at 7:28 amFrom the North County Times, this commentary by Ted Owen from the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce:
“As 2009 ended, the latest attempt to derail the Carlsbad Desalination Plant was rejected by the Coastal Commission. The celebration was short-lived, as two fringe environmental groups, undaunted by yet another defeat, kept up their assault on the project by filing yet another request that the Commission revoke the permit granted to Poseidon Resources in 2007.
For those of you keeping score, that’s five lawsuits and another five permit appeals spearheaded by lawyers representing the Surfrider Foundation and Coastkeeper. To date, these challenges have been rejected. In fact, during the last six years, every permitting and regulatory agency has approved this desalination facility and every court petitioned to overturn the approvals has declined to do so.
A recent public opinion survey conducted by the San Diego County Water Authority showed that a whopping nine out of 10 county residents support seawater desalination, and every state and federal elected official from San Diego County has endorsed the project. No matter what your opinion of the project is after all these years, there is no doubt that it is supported by sound science and the law. With construction of the project under way, environmental extremists have no chance of stopping the desalination facility from being built.
So why do they keep up their antics? Because these obstructionists hope to delay this new water supply and add so much cost that Poseidon will eventually be forced to abandon the project. This is foolish. … “
Read more of this commentary by clicking here.
Surfrider Foundation abandons lawsuit challenging Carlsbad desalination project
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on January 9, 2010 at 8:23 amFrom Poseidon Resources, this media statement:
“San Diego, CA – Poseidon Resources today announced it has been notified by the Surfrider Foundation that the organization has abandoned its legal challenge to the State Lands Commission’s approval of the Carlsbad Desalination Project (Project). In August, the San Diego Superior Court issued a final ruling upholding the State Lands Commission’s 2008 approval of the Project. The Surfrider Foundation and Coastkeeper jointly filed an appeal of the Court’s ruling this past December.
The San Diego chapters of the Surfrider Foundation and Coastkeeper have an extensive and unsuccessful history of filing legal challenges (five lawsuits) and appealing Project permit approvals (five permit appeals). The Surfrider Foundation’s decision to abandon its legal opposition leaves Coastkeeper holding out as the sole Project litigant.
“Poseidon Resources and our public water agency customers appreciate the Surfrider Foundation’s decision to put an end to its legal challenges to the Carlsbad Desalination Project,” said Poseidon Resources’ Vice President Scott Maloni. “In doing so, Surfrider has chosen to abide by numerous court rulings and to accept the unwavering determination by the state’s regulatory agencies that the Project is environmentally benign,” said Maloni. “We urge Coastkeeper to follow the Surfrider Foundation’s lead and put the interests of the San Diego region first,” said Maloni.
Poseidon has worked in partnership with the City of Carlsbad since 1998 to build the desalination plant, which will have the capacity to produce 50-million-gallons-per-day of high quality drinking water and serve 300,000 residents annually. Phase one of Project construction started in November 2009. Once operational, the Carlsbad Desalination Project will provide enough drinking water to serve 300,000 residents annually. The facility is scheduled to be operational in 2012.
Poseidon Resources specializes in developing and financing water infrastructure projects, primarily seawater desalination and water treatment plants. These projects are implemented through innovative public-private partnerships in which private enterprise assumes the developmental and financial risks. For more information on Poseidon Resources and the Carlsbad desalination plant visit our website at www.carlsbad-desal.com.
Appeal filed against Carlsbad desalination ruling
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on December 24, 2009 at 6:08 amFrom the San Diego Union Tribune:
“Environmental groups that oppose an ocean-water desalination plant in Carlsbad have appealed a San Diego Superior Court ruling that favors plant development.
San Diego Coastkeeper and the Surfrider Foundation filed an appeal this month of a November ruling that allows developer Poseidon Resources to build the 50 million-gallon-a-day plant on the south shore of Agua Hedionda Lagoon.
The lawsuit challenges a lease granted for plant development by the California State Lands Commission, which has jurisdiction over state tidelands. … “
Read more from the San Diego Union Tribune by clicking here.
Environmental groups appeal Carlsbad desal plant approval
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on December 22, 2009 at 2:30 pmFrom the San Diego News Network:
“Two environmental groups are appealing the California State Lands Commission’s approval of a desalination plant already under construction in Carlsbad, it was announced Tuesday.
San Diego Coastkeeper and the Surfrider Foundation argue the State Lands Commission’s 2008 approval did not take into consideration changes to the project that necessitate further environmental review.
“We are not opposed to desalination,” said Gabriel Solmer, an attorney for Coastkeeper. “We are for responsible water supply choices, and the State Lands’ approval was not made responsibly or legally.” … “
Read more from the San Diego News Network by clicking here.
Carlsbad desal plant moves forward despite opposition
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on December 15, 2009 at 7:19 amFrom the San Diego News Network:
“Ten years ago, Poseidon Resources embarked on a journey to turn the ocean’s water into a usable supply for human consumption.
A myriad of lawsuits and battles later, the Carlsbad Desalination Project is now more than a month into its construction amid California’s water crisis — and not only are San Diegans awaiting for the plant’s faucet to turn on, but Americans are anticipating the largest desalination project in U.S. history.
“It’s an exhilarating feeling… it’s very rewarding,” said Poseidon Vice President Scott Maloni. “It’s a verification of all the sound science and expert engineering we’ve worked on the past ten years.”
Poseidon’s Carlsbad Desalination Project, which will be the largest in the country in less than three years, has faced major criticism among groups such as the Coastal Environmental Rights Foundation, and most recently, from the San Diego Coastkeeper and the Surfrider Foundation. … “
Read more from the San Diego News Network by clicking here.
Commentary: Coastal Commission wearies of Poseidon ocean desalination plan; $530 million in public subsidized funding is next hurdle
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on December 14, 2009 at 6:31 amFrom the California Progress Report, this commentary by Joe Geever of the Surfrider Foundation:
“Yesterday, after hours of deliberation the California Coastal Commission voted to reject a request by public-interest groups to revoke a permit for the largest desalination plant in the western Hemisphere in Carlsbad.
The groups had brought the revocation request after it was revealed that Poseidon Resources submitted incorrect environmental impact data – drastically underestimating the amount of marine life that would be killed by the plant. After the vote Commission staff disclosed new allegations of wrongdoing related to the plants greenhouse gas emissions.
One Commissioner, who voted against revoking the permit this time, commented that the repeated disclosure of misleading information from Poseidon was having a “cumulative effect.” “It’s like a rain of new problems,” according to Commissioner Burke – signaling what may be a sense of weariness by the Commission over the project’s proponent’s lack of accurate disclosures. … “
Read more of Joe Geever’s commentary by clicking here.
Seawater desalination’s time has come; The Press-Telegram was quick to judge Poseidon Resources and its seawater desalination projects without all the facts
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on December 13, 2009 at 9:07 amOkay, so that’s the title that the Long Beach Press Telegram used, so I’ll go with it, but it’s confusing and contradictory to me. This is a rebuttal to a previous Press-Telegram editorial by Denis Bilodeau, director on the board of the Orange County Water District and an Orange City Council member:
“President John F. Kennedy once said, “If we could ever competitively, at a cheap rate, get fresh water from salt water … it would be in the long-range interests of humanity which would really dwarf any other scientific accomplishments.” That was 1962. Today, almost 50 years later, California is on the precipice of pioneering the Pacific Ocean as a critical element of its drinking water supply.
In a Nov. 20 editorial (”How not to desalt the sea), the Press-Telegram was quick to judge Poseidon Resources and its seawater desalination projects without all the facts.
In response to climate change and regulatory droughts, there are more than two dozen seawater desalination plants in various stages of development throughout California, including several local projects planned for Long Beach, Dana Point and Huntington Beach. In San Diego County the largest and most technologically-advanced seawater desalination plant in the Western Hemisphere, capable of sustaining 300,000 residents, is now under construction. … “
Read the full text of this commentary by clicking here. (Thanks, Groksurf!)
Groups file another challenge to Carlsbad desalination project
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on December 12, 2009 at 8:45 amFrom KPBS:
“The California Coastal Commission rejected a challenge Thursday to a proposed desalination project in Carlsbad. But, opponents have filed another request to revoke the plant’s development permit.
The Surfrider Foundation, San Diego Coastkeeper and the Coastal Environmental Rights Foundation lost their first attempt to have the development permit for the desalination plant revoked.
Now the three environmental groups have filed another revocation request.
Marco Gonzalez is with the Coastal Environmental Rights Foundation. He says there are problems with Poseidon’s plans to offset greenhouse gas emissions. “They really do have some very significant hurdles to cross before this project can be built,” says Gonzalez. … “
Read more from KPBS by clicking here.
Coastal Commission denies enviros’ request to yank desalination plant permit
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on December 12, 2009 at 6:50 amFrom the San Francisco Bay Guardian:
“A coalition of environmental organizations argued yesterday that a permit issued to Poseidon Resources to build a massive desalination plant near San Diego should be revoked, because the company failed to provide complete information to California Coastal Commission staff.
At a CCC meeting held in the San Francisco Board of Supervisors Chambers in City Hall yesterday, commissioners listened as advocates from the Surfrider Foundation, San Diego Coastkeeper, and the Coastal Environmental Rights Foundation, who filed the request for permit revocation, argued that Poseidon purposely tried to mislead CCC staff by submitting incomplete and inaccurate information about technical aspects of its desalination facility. … “
But, apparently, it isn’t over yet. The SFBG writes:
” … But just after the vote, CCC Executive Director Peter Douglas noted that another request for revocation had been submitted on different technical grounds, and CCC staff was reviewing it. “Frankly, we have not yet decided at our level whether we are going to recommend a revocation of the permit,” he said.
Speaking later by phone, Sup. Mirkarimi told the Guardian that he thought Douglas’ “epilogue” validated the concerns that he had raised. “Half the people who voted against the revocation were probably regretting it,” he said. The project as a whole needs serious reexamination, he said, and added that with other desalination proposals coming down the pipe, “this sets a really bad trend.””
Read more from the San Francisco Bay Guardian by clicking here.
Coastal Commissioners deny revocation request for Carlsbad desal plant
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on December 11, 2009 at 7:51 amFrom KPBS:
“SAN DIEGO — The California Coastal Commission Thursday rejected a request from three environmental groups to revoke a coastal development permit for a desalination plant in Carlsbad.
The 9-to-3 vote to deny the revocation request came after two hours of testimony at the Coastal Commission meeting in San Francisco.
Three environmental groups — the Surfrider Foundation, San Diego Coastkeeper and the Coastal Environmental Rights Foundation — asked the California Coastal Commission to revoke Poseidon Resources’ coastal development permit to build a desalination plant in Carlsbad based on three contentions: … “
Read more from KPBS by clicking here.
Coastal Commission to consider request to revoke Poseidon’s desal permit
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on December 8, 2009 at 8:13 amFrom the North County Times:
“The California Coastal Commission is scheduled to consider Thursday a request to revoke a permit for a desalination plant in Carlsbad. It’s the latest effort by environmental groups to block the plant, which they say will hurt coastal wildlife.
Poseidon Resources Corp. which recently began preparing the site next to the Encina Power Station for construction, said the request is groundless.
If the request is granted, Poseidon would have to stop construction and reapply for a new permit. The plant will have a capacity of making 50 million gallons of fresh water a day, enough for 9 percent of the county’s needs.
Marco Gonzalez, an attorney for the Coastal Environmental Rights foundation, said Poseidon Resources, the plant’s builder, intentionally withheld information from the commission about how the plant would “impinge,” or trap fish against its intake. … “
Read more from the North County Times by clicking here.
With bond sales imminent, Poseidon moves on desal project
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on December 1, 2009 at 5:52 amFrom the San Diego Business Journal:
“After 11 years of intense planning, California Coastal Commission hearings and related regulatory hurdles, Poseidon Resources is ready to break ground on the $360 million Carlsbad Desalination Project.
Work to clear the coastal site for construction has begun, and in January, sales of $530 million worth of investment grade, tax-exempt bonds are planned to fund the project. State approvals for the bond sale are expected in coming weeks.
And Peter MacLaggan, senior vice president of Poseidon Resources, said foundations for the plant will most likely be poured in March of next year.
Up until that time, the site at the Encina Power Station will be cleared of oil and diesel storage tanks, underground piping, and a wastewater treatment plant. Asbestos materials will be removed, electrical and mechanical equipment relocated and soil remediation done as needed. Measures to prevent stormwater pollution will also be installed.
“We expect there will be a market for the bonds,” said MacLaggan, noting that the sales of $530 million in bonds will cover the $360 million project and its transaction costs. … “
Read more from the San Diego Business Journal by clicking here.
Should taxpayers subsidize desalination? Poseidon Resources may help the drought, but at what cost?
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on November 25, 2009 at 6:09 amFrom the San Francisco Guardian:
“Should the state of California hand over a multimillion dollar tax break to a company that is poised to build the largest desalination facility on the continent, just north of San Diego? That question will be decided early next year when Poseidon Resources, a water-infrastructure developer, formally submits its request for more than $500 million in tax-exempt bonds to the California Debt Limit Allocation Committee (CDLAC).
The decision will demonstrate whether California is willing to roll out the red carpet for desalination, an energy-intensive technology that has many questioning whether it’s a wise path to take. Proposals for desalination projects are cropping up across the state, including one for a smaller facility in Marin County, and water bonds recently approved by the Legislature as part of the state’s historic water package include $1 billion earmarked for water recycling and desalination.
With the state well into a three-year drought that has left some agricultural operations high and dry, calls for new reliable water sources such as desalination plants are only growing louder. … “
Read more from the San Francisco Bay Guardian by clicking here.
History in the making: Construction begins on Carlsbad desalination plant; Facility on schedule to be operational in 2012
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on November 14, 2009 at 7:28 amFrom Poseidon Resources, this press release:
“San Diego, CA – Poseidon Resources today announced that construction has commenced on the Carlsbad Desalination Plant (Plant).
After eleven years of planning and permitting, the Plant is the first large-scale desalination facility in California to reach the construction phase of development. Construction of the 50 Million Gallon per Day (MGD) desalination facility is scheduled to extend twenty four months with an additional six months allotted for full-scale operational testing. The facility, which will be the largest in the Western Hemisphere, is scheduled to be operational and delivering high quality drinking water throughout San Diego County before the end of 2012.
“It’s been a long and rewarding process, during which we met and overcame every challenge that one would expect when developing a major water supply project,” said Poseidon Resources’ Senior Vice President Peter MacLaggan. “This historic accomplishment would not have been possible without the support of a myriad of individuals and organizations that tirelessly fought to ensure that sound science and the public interest prevailed,” said MacLaggan. “When we are finished, San Diego will be home to the most technologically advanced, energy efficient and environmentally-sound seawater desalination plant in the Western Hemisphere,” said MacLaggan.
Poseidon adventure: $350 million public subsidy will help private desalination plant: What do you think? Cast your vote!
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on November 13, 2009 at 7:59 am
From the O.C. Register’s Watchdog blog:
“The mighty Metropolitan Water District of Southern California agreed this week to pony up $14 million per year – or $350 million over the next 25 years, if you prefer to think of it that way – to pay for desalinated water in San Diego County.
That money will go to public entities – cities and water districts – to offset the cost of water they’ll buy from a private, yet-to-be-built, desalination plant in Carlsbad. That plant will be constructed and owned by Poseidon Resources LLC.
If this Poseidon thing rings a bell, it’s not just becuase you remember Shelley Winters from the disaster movie. Poseidon is also working on a similar project in Huntington Beach. …”
Read more from the O.C. Watchdog by clicking here.
But wait, there’s more! Do you think Poseidon should receive the subsidy? Vote in the O.C. Watchdog poll by clicking here.
Check out this lengthy desal report prepared for Metropolitan Water District Board of Directors by clicking here.
Commentary: San Diego’s failure to treat sewage costs us money (& how this relates to Poseidon’s Carlsbad desal plant)
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on November 13, 2009 at 7:50 amFrom OpEdNews, this commentary:
“Poseidon Corp. is proposing to desalinate seawater, producing a veritable flood of, they say, cheap water. The Metropolitan Water District (MWD) was called upon to root for this scheme by promising subsidies of $250 per Acre-Foot of water (one acre one foot deep in water is an Acre-Foot, or AF). Normally, in California, we pay $30 to $220 per AF; in places that failed to provide enough water for their development, like San Diego, as high as $580/AF.
The connection between Poseidon’s desalting schemeand the San Diego Waiver allowing them to avoid secondary treatment standards for sewage is that since San Diego need not recycle its sewage water, its bribed pols and others have a better argument for borrowing loads of money ($535 million in tax-free bonds) and spending it on a desalting plant that is completely DOA.
“Public subsidies approved for San Diego…”
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-desalination11-2009nov11,0,1148730.storyI think the MWD Commissioners know it’s a scam; they sort of talked about it tongue-in-cheek in private conversations with me. But that’s business …”
Read more from OpEdNews by clicking here.
Peter Gleick: Giving desalination another black eye: Poseidon’s financial shell game
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on November 11, 2009 at 4:31 pmFrom Peter Gleick at the City Brights blog:
“Last week, I wrote about the demand by the Poseidon Group to receive two major public subsidies to build a private desalination plant at Carlsbad near San Diego. After years of claiming that they needed no public support to build this plant, this claim has finally been proven false. The private profits they need will only be possible with public subsidies.
Water Number: $350 million in public subsidies to a private group. Earlier this week, one of the subsidies demanded by Poseidon was granted. The Metropolitan Water Board approved a subsidy of up to $250 per acre foot per year for 25 years, which will make MWD customers pay more for water than they would otherwise have paid, with the profits going to a private company. Up to $350 million over 25 years.
This decision by MWD effectively proves two things: first, that desalination, as envisioned and designed by Poseidon, remains a premature and expensive choice for California. Second, that for all of Southern California’s claims of improved efficiency, it is still easier for water agencies to spend $2 (or $3 or $4) to build a water-supply project than to spend $1 to get the same water through water-efficiency programs. …”
Read the rest of Peter Gleick’s post at the City Brights blog by clicking here.
Metropolitan Water District approves subsidies for Poseidon’s Carlsbad desal plant
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on November 11, 2009 at 8:03 amFrom the Los Angeles Times:
“Southern California’s first major seawater desalination plant moved forward Tuesday when it won public subsidies that could eventually amount to $350 million.
Years in the planning, the private San Diego County venture would be capable of producing enough water to supply about 100,000 homes.
The Carlsbad project is the furthest along of a host of desalination plants under consideration on the California coast. Backers said Tuesday’s vote by the board of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California was critical to getting private financing, the plant’s next hurdle.
The project has obtained major state environmental approvals but continues to be challenged by coastal groups.
“We’re going to fight it every step of the way,” vowed Eddie Scher, one of several dozen opponents who asked the MWD not to approve the subsidy. …”
Read more from the Los Angeles Times by clicking here.
From the San Diego News Room:
” … The subsidies, which are expected to cost MWD $350 million over the 25-year contract, will help make water provided by the desalination plant no more expensive than water currently supplied by MWD.
“We greatly appreciate the support that Metropolitan Water District has demonstrated on behalf of desalination. With the ongoing drought, legal and environmental challenges, and State Water Project infrastructure challenges, the Seawater Desalination Program is a smart investment in California’s water stability both now and for the future,” said Valley Center Municipal Water District General Manager Gary Arant. …”
Read more from the San Diego News Room by clicking here.
MORE INFO: Read Poseidon’s press release by clicking here.
Metropolitan Water District approves Carlsbad seawater desalination program agreement
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on November 10, 2009 at 4:46 pmFrom Poseidon Resources, this press release:
“San Diego, CA – The San Diego Desal Partners today announced that the Board of Directors Metropolitan Water District of Southern California (MWD) voted to approve a Seawater Desalination Program (SDP) agreement with the San Diego County Water Authority (SDCWA) and nine local retail agencies. The agreement provides the nine local water retail agencies, known as the San Diego Desal Partners, with a $250 per-acre-foot incentive towards the purchase of desalinated water from Poseidon Resources’ Carlsbad Desalination Project.
“We greatly appreciate the support that Metropolitan Water District has demonstrated on behalf of desalination. With the ongoing drought, legal and environmental challenges, and State Water Project infrastructure challenges, the Seawater Desalination Program is a smart investment in California’s water stability both now and for the future,” said Valley Center Municipal Water District General Manager Gary Arant. “The water produced locally by our private partner, the Carlsbad Desalination Project, will assist our region in developing a more diverse water portfolio while reducing our dependence on imported water at no risk to taxpayers.”
Desalination better than rain dance
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on November 9, 2009 at 6:27 amFrom the North County Times, this column by Andy McIntosh:
“When I cast my line into the water last week, my hook baited with a big shiny lure, “the water shortage is bogus,” I snagged but a single carp. My e-mail creel, on the other hand, yielded several lunkers who supported my bold claim. Alas, the single carp’s best retort was that indeed the delta smelt are more important to this state than mere parched mortals.
The powers that be, including the California Department of Water Resources and the Rancho California Water District, can’t seem to articulate —- other than the standard beat of the drummer “more tax dollars” —- a fix for our dilemma. I offered one last week —- seawater desalination —- and have yet to receive the firestorm of opposition I expected. Maybe I’m on to something.
Apparently, the very best the suits can offer, in our perpetually arid state, is to dance the dance of rain. While the experts themselves can’t for sure predict an El Nino winter, they suggest nonetheless that such an event would be the answer to our drought.
“If you want water this winter, you really have to root for a strong El Nino,” exhorted University of Colorado’s Klaus Wolter, as reported recently in The Californian. Funny, the environmental experts had us all cringing in our underwear during the cataclysmic 1997 El Nino that never was. Forgot about that, didn’t you? …”
Read more from the North County Times by clicking here.
Editorial: At last, progress on desalination
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on November 8, 2009 at 6:19 amFrom the San Diego Union Tribune:
“So, let’s see. San Diego County is a semiarid region, in the middle of yet another drought, with ever-increasing demand for water from residents and industry alike. And, perched at the edge of the Pacific Ocean, it is also the incubator and center of the nation’s desalination technology industry.
Given all that, there must be high-volume desal plants humming along up and down the county coastline, right?
Not exactly.
In fact, if you’ve been following the news, you know that only last week, after 11 laborious years, did Poseidon Resources receive the final permit that should allow it to build the region’s first large-scale ocean-water desalination plant, in Carlsbad, a plant expected to be producing 50 million gallons of potable water by 2012.
It is inexcusable that it took so long to win approval for such a common-sense step toward alleviating the region’s water shortage. But it is our fervent hope that Poseidon’s hard-won success will make it much easier for similar projects. …”
Read more from the San Diego Union Tribune by clicking here.
Preconstruction for Carlsbad desalination can go ahead
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on November 5, 2009 at 12:25 pmFrom Desalination & Water ReUse:
“Site demolition and preparation for the Carlsbad Desalination Project can now take place following the issue to Poseidon Resources on 3 November 2009 of its Coastal Development Permit (CDP) from the California Coastal Commission (CCC).
Poseidon first introduced its project in 1998 and initiated the permitting process in 2003. It has spent the past six years permitting the project, a process that included over 15 public hearings and 80 hours of public testimony and deliberation. Over this period, the CCC (2 hearings), the City of Carlsbad, the State Lands Commission (2 hearings) and the San Diego Regional Water Quality Control Board (6 hearings) all approved the project. …”
Read more from Desalination & Water Reuse by clicking here.
Carlsbad desalination plant gets final OK
Posted by: Aqua Blog Maven on November 4, 2009 at 7:53 amFrom the San Diego Union Tribune:
“Poseidon Resources was given the green light by the Coastal Commission on Tuesday to construct the state’s first large-scale ocean-water desalination plant in Carlsbad.
When it goes into operation in 2012, the plant will draw 100 million gallons a day of water from Agua Hedionda Lagoon and strip salt from half of it to turn 50 million gallons into drinking water.
Peter MacLaggan, Poseidon Resources senior vice president, said the Coastal Commission permit requires the company to begin construction in less than two weeks.
“We will initiate pre-construction activity” next week, MacLaggan said, which will satisfy terms of the permit.
The company has a long way to go before the plant, to be built on the grounds of the Encina Power Station along the coast, will start producing potable water in 2012. …”
Read more from the San Diego Union Tribune by clicking here.
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