Found in a google-fest about desal and Cambria. And article from April 2004 on Public Citizen, a National Non-Profit Public Interest Organization.
Public Citizen Demands Delay in the Approval of Multi-Million Dollar Desalination Project in Cambria
CAMBRIA, Calif.- Public Citizen today filed a complaint to urge the Fair Political Practices Commission to investigate a potential conflict of interest case involving Cambria Community Services District Board (CCSD) Member Greg Sanders. The complaint highlights the opportunity for financial gain at the expense of taxpayers through the construction of an environmentally questionable desalination facility on the California coast.
As both a member of the CCSD Board of Directors and as a partner in the law firm of Nossaman, Gunther, Knox Elliot LPP, Mr. Sanders presents a potential conflict of interest. Both he and his firm stand to benefit financially if the project agreement is approved and the desalination industry gains momentum in California. Clients that stand to benefit from the project include the water company USFilter, a subsidiary of the international French conglomerate, Veolia Environnement, as well as Poseidon Resources, a New Jersey-based consulting firm. Both companies specialize in water treatment and desalination, and are currently advocating for desalination projects along the California coast.
Read the rest of the article on Public Citizen’s site.
Any of you readers have an update or know whatever became of this? I contacted Public Citizen and haven’t received a reply as of yet.
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Conflict of interest? Any personal gain for Sanders as they outline would be so remotely indirect that this charge is ridiculous. The way he actually stands to gain directly from the installation of a desalination plant is that Cambria will then have a reliable water supply, which means it will be able to keep it’s water storage full in dry seasons, which means Cambria’s wildfire risk is reduced. Since he lives in Cambria he would benefit from this. In fact, that’s why he’s on the board.
Let’s talk about the conflict of interest Cambria property owners have in keeping the moratorium going. How about if all those whose property value will go up faster if the moratorium stays in effect are forced to recuse themselves?