August 2008

U.S. Water News Online

OCEANSIDE, Calif. — A state commission has approved a plan to build the hemisphere's largest desalination plant north of San Diego.

The California Coastal Commission voted in favor of the $300 million plant proposed by Connecticut-based Poseidon Resources Corp. The plant will be located in Carlsbad.

Commissioners gave the plant conditional approval in November. However, final approval hinged on the panel endorsing the company's plan to make the plant carbon neutral and to restore wetlands.

Poseidon hopes to break ground next year and eventually produce about 10 percent of San Diego County's water supply — enough for 300,000 people. The plant would suck in 100 million gallons of sea water a day.

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