California Beginning to Solve Water Problems (San Diego, Carlsbad: construction, live, move)

[NewToCA]

The California Coastal Commission approved a plan Wednesday to build the Western Hemisphere's largest desalination plant north of San Diego — a move aimed at relieving water shortages in the nation's most populated state.

The decision came after a daylong debate over the merits of the $300 million Carlsbad project, which is expected to eventually produce 10 percent of San Diego County's water supply from ocean water.

Construction on the plant could begin next year and begin delivering drinking water in 2011, according to Connecticut-based Poseidon Resources Corp., which is heading the project.


Panel approves plan for desalination plant - International Herald Tribune

[jmarquise]

this is good, but I hope they don't get any money from earmarks.

Originally Posted by NewToCA

The California Coastal Commission approved a plan Wednesday to build the Western Hemisphere's largest desalination plant north of San Diego — a move aimed at relieving water shortages in the nation's most populated state.

The decision came after a daylong debate over the merits of the $300 million Carlsbad project, which is expected to eventually produce 10 percent of San Diego County's water supply from ocean water.

Construction on the plant could begin next year and begin delivering drinking water in 2011, according to Connecticut-based Poseidon Resources Corp., which is heading the project.


Panel approves plan for desalination plant - International Herald Tribune

[GregW]

Why shouldn't they get Federal help for this project? The rest of the water is delivered from and with Federal projects. I prefer they build a desalinization plant instead of Star Wars weapons. The knowledge gained from building this plant will make building others more efficient and less costly.

[DMenscha]

This is a great first step. We get somewhat tired of sending our water down the CA aqueduct.

[NewToCA]

Hopefully this will be the first of many desalination projects. I haven't understood why we haven't been more aggressive here, the EPA stuff should have been resolved a decade ago.

[EscapeCalifornia]

Desalination is great except that its VERY energy intensive and people have a stroke when you mention the one potential source of energy that'll never run out.

[kettlepot]

This project will probably be tied up in court for years. The environmentalists are opposed to it, for fear that fish will be scooped up during the water intake process. The real reason the environmentalists are opposed is because it throws a monkey wrench in their preferred alternative which is converting sewage back into drinking water and pumping the treated sewage back into the city's water supply.

And the only people who object to using solar power from the El Centro Solar plant are - you guessed it - the Environmentalists (in conjunction with some NIMBYs) - who in this case object to building larger high power transmission lines from the Imperial Valley through the Cleveland National Forest to the coastal area where the people are.

With them, you can't win for trying.

Man, I'm feeling frustrated and cynical these days.

[NewToCA]

Originally Posted by kettlepot

This project will probably be tied up in court for years. The environmentalists are opposed to it, for fear that fish will be scooped up during the water intake process. The real reason the environmentalists are opposed is because it throws a monkey wrench in their preferred alternative which is converting sewage back into drinking water and pumping the treated sewage back into the city's water supply.

And the only people who object to using solar power from the El Centro Solar plant are - you guessed it - the Environmentalists (in conjunction with some NIMBYs) - who in this case object to building larger high power transmission lines from the Imperial Valley through the Cleveland National Forest to the coastal area where the people are.

With them, you can't win for trying.

Man, I'm feeling frustrated and cynical these days.

Actually, I think the consecutive years of drought along with the budget problems, might actually result in some of these projects going forward.

[Collideascope]

Originally Posted by kettlepot

And the only people who object to using solar power from the El Centro Solar plant are - you guessed it - the Environmentalists (in conjunction with some NIMBYs) - who in this case object to building larger high power transmission lines from the Imperial Valley through the Cleveland National Forest to the coastal area where the people are.

Actually, the issue is the transmission lines crossing Anza-Borrego Desert State Park - the proposed SDG&E route does not cross CNF at all.

Of course, the transmission lines could also be run south along the international border or even through the I-8 corridor and avoid bisecting ABDSP. Indeed, this has been proposed by groups who opposed the transmission lines crossing ABDSP. The transmission lines don't have to cross the state park. In fact, either the border route or the I-8 route would be shorter than the proposed route, since the proposal calls for a line which actually runs north out of El Centro, across ABDSP and almost as far north as Warner Springs before cutting south through Santa Ysabel and then southwest to San Diego.

But heaven forbid the lines go anywhere but right through ABDSP ...