Say NO to the Poseidon Ocean Desalination Plant
- by: C. Evelyn
- recipient: California Coastal Commission
We don’t need it!
Ocean desalination:
…is highly energy intensive and expensive,
…and will hinder other water supply options that are less costly and better for the environment, such as water conservation, wastewater recycling, and stormwater harvesting.
The Poseidon proposal has not even gotten approval from local and regional water agencies. None have committed to purchasing Poseidon’s water.
We don’t want it!
The Poseidon project uses outdated and environmentally harmful technology that:
…unnecessarily kills marine life through its open intake system,
…degrades water quality from the brine discharge,
…uses more energy than any other water supply option.
Desal plants can be designed to minimize marine life mortality, water quality degradation, and coastal habitat degradation. The State Water Resource Control Agency is currently gathering information from scientific experts on proper site, design and technology for ocean desalination proposals. But Poseidon’s project does not meet any of these recommendations.
Tell the Coastal Commission:
· To deny the Poseidon permits.
· Poseidon’s proposal does not meet the recommendations of the science community.
· The project would threaten marine life, degrade water quality, and increase greenhouse gas emissions.
· There is no demonstrated need for desalinated water in Huntington Beach.
· Ocean desalination should be an option of last resort. Better water supply options that protect our coast and ocean should be fully implemented before approving ocean desalination facilities. Orange County hasn’t done that yet.
The Coastal Commission has a duty to uphold the state Coastal Act by:
· Restoring and protecting marine life;
· Restoring and protecting ocean water quality and habitat value;
· Restoring and protecting coastal wetlands, sensitive coastal habitat, and wildlife.
The Poseidon proposal violates all of these Coastal Act policies.
Deny Poseidon's Coastal Development Permit
Dear California Coastal Commissionars,
The proposed Poseidon Huntington Beach Desalination Facility should not be awarded a Coastal Development Permit.
The Poseidon Desalination Facility would harm our marine resources and would negatively impact the Southern California coast and the region's tourist-driven economy. Further, it contradicts the State of California's commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and efforts to phase out Once Through Cooling technology along our coast.
Creating freshwater from saltwater is an expensive and energy-intensive process which contributes to climate change and sea level rise. The proposed plant is projected to use enough electricity to power 30,000 homes!
The proposed site for the facility is located in a tsunami runup zone and next to a earthquake fault.
The facility would harm the local marine environment. Poseidon's outdated technology would suck in and kill fish and plankton that play a critical role in our coastal ecosystem. Operations at the plant would also produce hyper-saline brine that degrades water quality and harms marine life.
This desalination plant would also harm the Marine Protected Areas along our coast. We have already made large investments into implementing these protected areas and should ensure they remain protected.
Protect the coast and deny Poseidon's Coastal Development Permit.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State ZIP]
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