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Environment

Environmental Groups Challenge Desalination Plant Approval

The California Coastal Commission has approved the final permit for a proposed desalination plant in Carlsbad. But San Diego Coastkeeper says it will continue challenging the project.

Poseidon Resources says it will prepare the site for construction next week at the Encina Power Station.

San Diego Coastkeeper has asked the state Coastal Commission to revoke the construction permit.

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Gabe Solmer with Coastkeeper says the commission should take another look at some of the facts provided by Poseidon Resources during the hearing process.

"The staff will make a recommendation to the full commission but it will be up to the commission members themselves to decide whether the request has merit," Solmer says.

She says a hearing on the request is expected in December.

Meantime, Poseidon says it needs $530 million to finance construction by the end of this year.

Poseidon says the plant would produce 50 million gallons of drinking water a day upon completion sometime in 2012.

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The facility would be the largest desalination plant in the Western Hemisphere.

Related

Carlsbad Desalination Plant Receives Permit, Begins Construction

Environmental Groups Challenge Desalination Plant Approval
The California Coastal Commission has approved the final permit for a proposed desalination plant in Carlsbad. But San Diego Coastkeeper says it will continue challenging the project.

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