For San Diego County residents, August 2008 will be a month to remember.
The region's hottest month marked the end of the 10-year quest for approval of the Carlsbad Desalination Project. This critical new water supply project and its capacity to produce 50 million gallons of drinking water per day will quench our parched region's demand for potable water.
The desalination plant will provide San Diego County with a locally-controlled, drought-proof supply of high-quality water. Public water agencies serving the cities of Carlsbad, Oceanside, San Marcos, San Diego, Encinitas, Solana Beach, Rancho Santa Fe, Escondido, Chula Vista, National City and the unincorporated communities of Rainbow, Bonsall and Fallbrook will be the direct beneficiaries of the reliable water supply, which will be developed at no expense to the region's taxpayers.
On Aug. 6, the California Coastal Commission voted for the second time in the past nine months to approve the project and its permit conditions. Specifically, the commission voted to approve Poseidon Resources' voluntary Energy Minimization and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan and its Marine Life Mitigation Plan.
These two permit conditions were attached to the project when the commission first approved the desalination plant's Coastal Development Permit last November. On Aug. 22, the State Lands Commission voted unanimously to approve the project, ending the permitting process and clearing the way for construction of what Poseidon Resources has described as “the country's most technologically advanced, energy efficient and environmentally sound desalination plant.”
“The Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce has been instrumental in getting the desalination project approved,” said Poseidon Resources Senior Vice President Peter MacLaggan. “The chamber stood with us over the years and refused to let this project die.”
Carlsbad Chamber President and CEO Ted Owen said the chamber prides itself on representing the collective interests of the entire community.
“Our advocacy for this project over the years is based on our belief that the desalination plant is more than a water supply project, it's an environmental preservation and enhancement project as well,” Owen said.
Last year, Forbes Magazine named Poseidon one of the United States' top 100 companies that are “Going Green” after it was announced the Carlsbad Desalination Plant was the first major infrastructure project in the state to voluntarily eliminate its net carbon footprint. Poseidon's plan to minimize the Carlsbad Desalination Project's energy consumption and reduce indirect greenhouse gas emissions is unprecedented.
Poseidon has made enforceable commitments to protect the environment that go above and beyond its obligations under the state's pre-eminent environmental law, the California Environmental Quality Act. Specifically, Poseidon will create 55 acres of new coastal marine wetlands to offset impacts to marine life that were determined to be insignificant by the project's certified Environmental Impact Report.
In doing so, the project will maintain, restore and enhance the nearby marine environment. Poseidon will immediately create 37 acres of new coastal wetlands prior to the operation of the plant, which will substantially over-mitigate the project's minor impacts by up to 2.5 times after it starts operating and while the Encina Power Station continues to function.
In addition to its plan to immediately restore 37 acres of coastal wetlands, Poseidon has committed to serve as the steward of the Agua Hedionda Lagoon if, and when, the Encina Power Station is fully decommissioned. The commitment to dredge and maintain the lagoon will allow for the 388-acre, manmade coastal estuary to continue to provide aquaculture and fishery restoration programs and education, recreation and research opportunities.
Approval of the project means the local economy stands to make significant gains. During construction, the project will generate $170 million in spending and create 2,100 jobs.
There also are long-term economic gains to be had. Once operational, the desalination plant will produce 400 direct, indirect and induced jobs and $37 million in annual spending throughout the region.
Moving forward, Poseidon Resources has selected an internationally-renowned team to design, engineer, construct and startup the Carlsbad seawater desalination project. Contracts with this team will be finalized in the coming months.
Poseidon is receiving strong interest from the investment community and expects to secure project financing and start construction in the first half of 2009.
For more information, visit www.carlsbad-desal.com.
The region's hottest month marked the end of the 10-year quest for approval of the Carlsbad Desalination Project. This critical new water supply project and its capacity to produce 50 million gallons of drinking water per day will quench our parched region's demand for potable water.
The desalination plant will provide San Diego County with a locally-controlled, drought-proof supply of high-quality water. Public water agencies serving the cities of Carlsbad, Oceanside, San Marcos, San Diego, Encinitas, Solana Beach, Rancho Santa Fe, Escondido, Chula Vista, National City and the unincorporated communities of Rainbow, Bonsall and Fallbrook will be the direct beneficiaries of the reliable water supply, which will be developed at no expense to the region's taxpayers.
On Aug. 6, the California Coastal Commission voted for the second time in the past nine months to approve the project and its permit conditions. Specifically, the commission voted to approve Poseidon Resources' voluntary Energy Minimization and Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan and its Marine Life Mitigation Plan.
These two permit conditions were attached to the project when the commission first approved the desalination plant's Coastal Development Permit last November. On Aug. 22, the State Lands Commission voted unanimously to approve the project, ending the permitting process and clearing the way for construction of what Poseidon Resources has described as “the country's most technologically advanced, energy efficient and environmentally sound desalination plant.”
“The Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce has been instrumental in getting the desalination project approved,” said Poseidon Resources Senior Vice President Peter MacLaggan. “The chamber stood with us over the years and refused to let this project die.”
Carlsbad Chamber President and CEO Ted Owen said the chamber prides itself on representing the collective interests of the entire community.
“Our advocacy for this project over the years is based on our belief that the desalination plant is more than a water supply project, it's an environmental preservation and enhancement project as well,” Owen said.
Last year, Forbes Magazine named Poseidon one of the United States' top 100 companies that are “Going Green” after it was announced the Carlsbad Desalination Plant was the first major infrastructure project in the state to voluntarily eliminate its net carbon footprint. Poseidon's plan to minimize the Carlsbad Desalination Project's energy consumption and reduce indirect greenhouse gas emissions is unprecedented.
Poseidon has made enforceable commitments to protect the environment that go above and beyond its obligations under the state's pre-eminent environmental law, the California Environmental Quality Act. Specifically, Poseidon will create 55 acres of new coastal marine wetlands to offset impacts to marine life that were determined to be insignificant by the project's certified Environmental Impact Report.
In doing so, the project will maintain, restore and enhance the nearby marine environment. Poseidon will immediately create 37 acres of new coastal wetlands prior to the operation of the plant, which will substantially over-mitigate the project's minor impacts by up to 2.5 times after it starts operating and while the Encina Power Station continues to function.
In addition to its plan to immediately restore 37 acres of coastal wetlands, Poseidon has committed to serve as the steward of the Agua Hedionda Lagoon if, and when, the Encina Power Station is fully decommissioned. The commitment to dredge and maintain the lagoon will allow for the 388-acre, manmade coastal estuary to continue to provide aquaculture and fishery restoration programs and education, recreation and research opportunities.
Approval of the project means the local economy stands to make significant gains. During construction, the project will generate $170 million in spending and create 2,100 jobs.
There also are long-term economic gains to be had. Once operational, the desalination plant will produce 400 direct, indirect and induced jobs and $37 million in annual spending throughout the region.
Moving forward, Poseidon Resources has selected an internationally-renowned team to design, engineer, construct and startup the Carlsbad seawater desalination project. Contracts with this team will be finalized in the coming months.
Poseidon is receiving strong interest from the investment community and expects to secure project financing and start construction in the first half of 2009.
For more information, visit www.carlsbad-desal.com.