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Carlsbad Power Plant Upgrade Could Affect Desalination Plans

The owners of a coastal power plant in Carlsbad want to upgrade the facility. If the project is approved, changes to the Encina Power Station could affect a plan to use it for a proposed desalination

Carlsbad Power Plant Upgrade Could Affect Desalination Plans

The owners of a coastal power plant in Carlsbad want to upgrade the facility. If the project is approved, changes to the Encina Power Station could affect a plan to use it for a proposed desalination plant. KPBS reporter Ed Joyce has details.

The Encina Power Plant owners plan to build a 540-megawatt plant they say would produce enough power for about 350,000 homes.

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It could be online in about three years if approved by state regulators. But the project could affect a proposed desalination plant at the same location.

Poseidon Resources wants to use Encina's Agua Hedionda Lagoon intake pipe to bring in seawater.

Plant owners NRG Energy say their new power plant would not use the pipe for cooling.

Scott Maloni represents Poseidon Resources .

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Maloni : Poseidon has a 60-year lease with Encina to use the intake and outfall infrastructure regardless of whether the power plant's in operation or not.

The California Coastal Commission considers the desalination proposal at a hearing in November. Owners of Encina say they'll apply next month for the new power plant.

Ed Joyce, KPBS News.