In 2005, the House of Representatives published a report “ DESALINATION WATER SUPPLY SHORTAGE PREVENTION ACT OF 2005″ (Click to read the full report). The report recognized the importance of desalination as a new source of needed water and the cost of the energy consumed in the desalination process. It states that “qualified desalination plants” will be paid 62ยข per thousand gallons (or about $200 per acre foot) of desalinated water produced and sold, adjusted for inflation every year using the method used by the IRS. There are authorized to be appropriated to the Secretary (of DOE) $200,000,000 to carry out this section from fiscal year 2006 through fiscal year 2016.
Limitations. — In any fiscal year not more than 60 percent of the funds made available by the Secretary under this section shall be made available to the owners or operators of qualified desalination facilities that obtain source water directly from the sea, an estuary, or from in-bank extraction wells that are of seawater origin
Priority.–In awarding incentive payments under this section, the Secretary shall give priority to any application for a project that–
(1) uses innovative technologies to reduce the energy demand of the project;
(2) uses renewable energy supplies in the desalination process;
(3) provides regional water supply benefits;
(4) provides a secure source of new water supplies for national defense activities;
(5) reduces the threat of a water supply disruption as a result of a natural disaster or acts of terrorism;
(6) uses technologies that minimize the damage to marine life; or
(7) provides significant water quality benefits.
The payments would partially offset the cost of electrical energy required for operation. The facility has up to ten years after enactment to submit an application to the Secretary for incentive payments. These incentive payments will then be available up to ten years after the written agreement is finalized.
The financial costs of desalination have gone down fairly significantly over the last 10 years, but little has changed in terms of the environmental costs. Last March, Santa Cruz started up a pilot desalination plant. Four different pre-treatment technologies along with reverse osmosis desalination technology are being tested for at least a year at the facility. The results of the pilot plant operations will be used to define the design requirements, the best pre-treatment process and costs of a full-scale desalination facility.
Although the composition of the sea water Santa Cruz will desalinate is different from the water Cambria would be using, I look forward to hearing the results of their year-long experiment. It could indicate how feasible and expensive a plant here might be.
The issues we face here in Cambria are complex and there are many people whose plans have been on hold for nearly 20 years as Cambria struggles to officially ensure there is enough water for everyone. Even with a board committed to implementing the Water Master Plan, it looks like it’ll be at least four more before lawns can be planted and intent to serve letters are provided to those wanting to build.
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Last 5 posts by Amanda Rice
- Gail Robinette Chosen to Complete DeMicco's Term as CCSD Director on Unanimous Vote
- California Coastal Commission Unanimously Denied Army Corps Desal Tests
- Cambria CSD Agenda for November 27, 2011 Meeting Includes Water Conservation & New Tank Project
- Sunken Oil Tanker Off Cambria's Coastline Will Be Checked Again Soon
