California Coastal Commission OKs desalination plant in Orange County
The Orange County Commission has given final approval for the construction of a desalination plant atop the old Irvine Spectrum site in Newport Beach, California, according to the Orange County Register.
The plant would be capable of producing up to 2.5 million gallons of drinking water per day and would have an initial cost of $17 million.
Desalination is a way of purifying seawater in order to make fresh water.
The plant would also be a major renewable-energy source, providing electricity.
The Orange County Commission has given final approval for the construction of a desalination plant atop the old Irvine Spectrum site in Newport Beach, California, according to the Orange County Register. The Orange County Commission has given final approval for the construction of a desalination plant atop the old Irvine Spectrum site in Newport Beach, California, according to the Orange County Register.
The plant would be capable of producing up to 2.5 million gallons of drinking water per day and would have an initial cost of $17 million.
Desalination is a way of purifying seawater in order to make fresh water.
The plant would also be a major renewable-energy source, providing electricity.
The plant – the largest in the county by area – would be built by New Wave Technologies, which also operates the plant that desalinates the seawater from the nearby San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station and Pacific Gas & Electric Co.’s Diablo Canyon nuclear power plants.
The plant’s owner, Newport Beach-based New Wave Technologies, said in a statement on the commission’s website on Thursday that “the Orange County government is a very important partner in this project.”
“The County’s support has been important to the team in developing the project. In a difficult economic climate, the County has provided financing, economic development incentives and assistance with permitting. Additionally, the County has worked closely with the project team to ensure the project is a successful one,” the company said.
The Orange County Water District, which operates the Desateria plant, will pay New Wave Technologies a $3.