Poseidon resubmits application to Coastal Commission for desalination plant development permit

Poseidon Water said Wednesday that it has resubmitted its application to the California Coastal Commission for a coastal development permit after more than a year and a half of determining whether subsurface intakes would be feasible for the company’s proposed desalination plant in Huntington Beach.

Though the application has been submitted, it could be months before the commission determines whether the company gets the green light to build its project.

The coastal development permit is the last stamp of approval Poseidon needs to construct the desalination plant near Newland Street and Pacific Coast Highway. The facility is projected to produce 50 million gallons of drinking water per day for Orange County.

Coastal commissioners allowed Poseidon to withdraw its permit application in November 2013 to allow for additional studies on subsurface water intakes for the plant.

For about 20 months, two panels of experts chosen by the Coastal Commission and Poseidon studied the feasibility of subsurface intakes. In October, one panel reported that seabed and beach intakes were technically feasible. However, a draft report by another panel concluded in August that such systems would not be economically viable.

“This is an important milestone for us,” Poseidon Vice President Scott Maloni said Wednesday. “The [advisory panel] process was very productive, and we felt like now was the time to submit so we can get back before the [Coastal] Commission as soon as possible.”

Maloni said he would like the commission to hear the proposal during its October meetings in Long Beach. If not then, Maloni expects the hearing to be held sometime in early 2016, he said.