Campaign Unavailable

The California Coastal Commission and the State Lands Commission will hold hearings this month on a proposed ocean water desalination plant in Carlsbad.  These agencies may set a standard for permitting other ocean desalination proposals from San Francisco Bay to San Diego – over 20 proposals that we know of.  Surfrider Foundation and our many partners in the environmental community are not opposed to all ocean desalination. But, we have major concerns about the Carlsbad proposal.

Ocean desalination plants take in millions of gallons of seawater for conversion to fresh water – killing all marine life. Ocean desalination is also extremely energy-intensive and can consequently exacerbate global warming and other threats to a healthy coast and ocean.

Several water agencies have been testing innovative methods meant to protect marin life and reduce the energy demand of ocean desalination – with proven successes. We have actively supported these efforts by the Long Beach Water Department and Municipal Water District of Orange County. Unfortunately, Poseidon is not employing these proven practices and technologies.

Poseidon has promised to offset the greenhouse gas emissions and marine life mortality caused by their proposal. However, they are now attempting to avoid most of the necessary mitigation they promised.

Please send a message today to the California agencies entrusted to protect our coast and ocean.  Poseidon must mitigate 100% of the environmental impacts caused by this proposed facility.