The Poseidon Desal Plant is Wrong for Huntington Beach

By Joe Shaw

Clean beaches and clean oceans are absolutely essential both for our residents and for the tourists who generate much of our city's revenue. A clean and green city is vital to Huntington Beach's future success.

First, the process takes a tremendous amount of energy. Second, the price of energy will continue to rise in decades to come. Third, if we took a few minimal steps to reduce the amount of water we use on outside irrigation, there is plenty of water to meet our needs both locally and state-wide.

In Orange County, we have a well-managed ground water basin so our costs are lower and our options are even wider than they are elsewhere.

Desalinated water from the Poseidon deal will never be viable without subsidies + either directly from taxpayers or buried somewhere in our water bills. Water experts know that there are many more cost-effective ways of adding to our water supply than building the plant that Poseidon has proposed.

We need to ask ourselves what are the best uses for our coastline and what we want our city to look like in the future. I believe the coastline of Huntington Beach should be planned for housing, for more resort destinations, or for projects that enhance our growing tourism industry.

The AES plant is an obsolete, inefficient gas-sucking industrial monstrosity that takes up valuable coastal property.

The electricity generated from AES should be replaced by sources such as Governor Schwarzenegger's million-roof solar initiative.

And of course we can't compromise on ocean quality issues. Clean beaches and clean oceans are absolutely essential both for our residents and for the tourists who generate much of our city's revenue. A clean and green city is vital to Huntington Beach's future success.

It comes down once again to leadership, vision and common sense. The Poseidon deal approved by four of our City Council members was not in the best interests of our city or its residents. Their decision means an important portion of our coast will continue to be industrial and unsightly.

Huntington Beach residents deserve a City Council that doesn't cave to the demands of special interests or party bosses.

On Nov. 7th, help me change Huntington Beach for the better. I'll be a voice for our residents and small businesses.