The San Diego County Water Authority announced today that it plans to study whether to build a hydroelectric power plant at the San Vicente Reservoir in Lakeside.
Such a plant could produce enough power for 325,000 homes, which would be helpful now that the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station is being shuttered, SDCWA officials said.
"Given the closure of the San Onofre plant, it makes sense for us to determine whether we can leverage our experience with hydroelectric power to help meet the region's need for clean energy,'' said Frank Belock, a deputy general manager at the Water Authority. "The concept of pumped storage at San Vicente has been on our radar for years and is a natural next step now that the San Vicente Dam Raise project is almost complete.''
He said an independent economic review in conjunction with the city of San Diego, which owns the reservoir, will help the SDCWA Board of Directors determine whether it should be made a priority.
A small reservoir in the hills above the San Vicente Reservoir would have to be built, along with other facilities, according to the SDCWA.
Agency officials said during periods of peak energy demand, water would flow down from the upper reservoir, through the hydroelectric system to create electricity and end up in the lower reservoir.
The water would be pumped back up during periods of lower demand.
A similar system is in use in the North County at a much smaller scale, according to the SDCWA.
The SDCWA reported that the assessment would cost $150,000 and be completed next spring. Construction would take five years.
