HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. (AP) — A California coastal panel on Wednesday rejected a long-standing proposal to build a $1.4 billion seawater desalination plant to turn Pacific Ocean water into …
HUNTINGTON BEACH — A California coastal panel on Wednesday rejected a long-standing proposal to build a $1.4 billion seawater desalination plant to turn Pacific Ocean water into drinking water as the state grapples with persistent drought that is expected to worsen in coming years with climate change.
Poseidon’s long-running proposal was supported by Gov. Gavin Newsom but faced ardent opposition from environmentalists who said drawing in large amounts of ocean water and releasing salty discharge back into the ocean would kill billions of tiny marine organisms that make up the base of the food chain along a large swath of the coast.
Commissioners cited those issues in following a staff recommendation and rejecting the proposal. They also cited the energy cost of running the plant and the fact that it would sit in an earthquake fault zone. Opponents carried signs reading “No Poseidon” and “Do not $ell our coast” and included a woman who wore a plankton costume and held a sign reading “I am a plankton — please do not kill me!”
Much of California’s water comes from melting snow and with a far below normal snowpack, state officials have told water agencies they will receive only 5% of what they’ve requested from state water supplies beyond what’s needed for critical activities like drinking and bathing. More than two decades ago, Poseidon proposed building two desalination plants — the one in San Diego County, and one in Huntington Beach. The San Diego County plant was approved and built, and desalinated water now accounts for 10% of San Diego County Water District ‘s water supplies.
South Africa Latest News, South Africa Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Agency unanimously rejects California desalination projectThe California Coastal Commission has rejected a long-standing proposal to build a $1.4 billion seawater desalination plant to turn ocean water into drinking water
Read more »
Northeast Ohio projects get Brownfields money from U.S. Environmental Protection AgencyThe Environmental Protection Agency awarded Northeast Ohio Areawide Coordinating Agency a $1 million grant to pay for pollution cleanup in areas that include Cleveland, Lorain Middlefield, Chippewa Lake and Ashtabula Township.
Read more »
Law enforcement agency in Southeast Georgia has new virtual reality tool to train deputiesThe APEX Officer Training Simulator is a virtual reality system being used to train police in various scenarios, where they have to decide whether they’re faced with a situation to use deadly force.
Read more »
Pro-Russian hackers target Italy institutional websites -ANSA news agencyPro-Russian hackers have attacked the websites of several Italian institutions, including the senate, ANSA news agency reported on Wednesday.
Read more »
Group files lawsuit to recoup more than $1 million from SLO County agencyBy KAREN VELIE A group filed a civil lawsuit last week against the San Luis Obispo County Air Pollution Control District (APCD) for the “illegal use” of more than $1 million from the Ca…
Read more »