A long-running and controversial bid to transform ocean water into tap water for profit for central and northern Orange County died Thursday, May 12, when the California Coastal Commission unanimously rejected a request for permission from Poseidon Water, the company behind the proposal. .
Supporters of the 50-million-gallon-per-day desalination plant, to be built just offshore in Huntington Beach, argued it would be a drought-proof source of drinking water at a time when water is expected to become a scarce resource.
But the commissioners who voted against Poseidon described the $1.4 billion project as too damaging to the ocean, too costly for water customers and too dangerous for the surrounding community. They also said it’s unclear whether Poseidon’s water, enough for 400,000 people, will ever be needed in central and northern Orange County, even as global warming makes drought conditions the norm. Some argued that wastewater recycling and other sources, including other potential desalination projects, will be able to meet future water needs.
The unanimous vote, cast by 11 members of the 12-member board, with one challenge, during a public hearing at a Costa Mesa hotel, also challenged Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has supported the project for years and recently said publicly that the The state needs The Poseidon Project as a water source because “we need more tools in the damn toolkit.” Four seats on the commission are appointed by the governor.
For Poseidon, the ruling effectively ends a 21-year, $100 million effort.
“This was not the decision we expected today,” Poseidon said in a statement immediately after the vote. “We thank Governor Gavin Newsom for his support of this project, correctly pointing out that desalination is an important tool in the toolkit. We believe in the Governor’s vision and his Water Resilience Portfolio, which identified the goal of maintaining and diversifying water supplies.”
Critics and some commissioners described Poseidon’s offer in less than glowing terms, saying the company did not do enough to resolve questions about the environment and cost. The company has repeatedly said the project would increase central and north county water bills by $3 to $6 a month, but the company has not provided a recent cost analysis and Coastal Commission staff said the price “would probably be higher”.
Nearly 300 members of the public attended in person or remotely to comment for or against the project. Some union members and others said the construction would add about 2,000 jobs over five years and create a long-term source of water.
“We can pay a few dollars more on our water bill,” said resident Ken Williams, who said he represented unions in Orange County. “What we can’t afford is taps running dry.”
But many other members of the public questioned the project’s environmental damage and the long-term impact it could have on everything from tourism to surfing.
“I know I don’t want to be surfing in toxic brine for the rest of my life,” said Casey Faulkner, a member of the Surfrider Foundation in Huntington Beach.
Others who have worked against the project for years expressed surprise that a water project with strong supporters in Sacramento and elsewhere was rejected during the worst drought in recent history.
“It was never a good idea for Huntington Beach, but shady money kept the project going for more than 20 years, all without a client or a permit to build,” said Ray Hiemstra of the Orange County Coast Guard, one of several groups opposing environmentalists. the project.
“This victory for sustainable water would not have been possible without the continued advocacy of Orange County residents and water warriors across the state.”
The denial raises questions about how the county will handle its future water needs.
Although the 2.5 million people living in central and northern Orange County who could have used Poseidon’s water will continue to be supplied by wastewater recycling and a large aquifer, other water sources appear less reliable. in the future.
Poseidon, in his statement on Thursday, suggested that the problem is immediate.
“California continues to face a punitive drought, with no end in sight. … Every day, we see new calls for conservation as reservoir levels drop to dangerous levels. We strongly believe that this desalination project would have created a drought-tolerant and sustainable water source for Orange County, just as it has for San Diego County.”
Opponents of the project agreed, with many saying they also support desalination projects in general, even as they oppose Poseidon’s specific offer.
Commission board members also spoke in favor of desalination, describing it as a long-term answer, even as they voted against the Poseidon proposal.
“I think desalination…should be a critical part of the state’s water portfolio. I’ve seen how good selling can be and how effective it can be, if done right,” said Commissioner Meagan Harmon.
Another desalination project could be used locally. Water districts in southern Orange County have proposed a plant near Doheny Beach. It would be financed by bonds issued by water agencies, and would be smaller and less environmentally degrading than the project presented by Poseidon.
The Doheny project is scheduled to go before the Coastal Commission later this year.
Reference-www.ocregister.com