What do we do now?

Rick Longinotti DesalAlternatives.org

My background: 20 years as an electrical contractor

Kwatt/1000 gal

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12

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16

current desalination

Kwatt/1000 gal

Energy Intensity

Desal = 12 X electricity of current production

Source: Kennedy/Jenks, Energy White Paper

Moss Landing gas-fired plant

Where would the power come from?

“Fracking” = Hydraulic fracturing of underground rock in order to extract natural gas or oil. Some chemicals that have been used in fracking:

•  diesel fuel •  benzene

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Natural gas extraction has become more environmentally damaging.

Why not use renewable energy to power the plant?

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Renewable energy sources “are not feasible at this time for power requirements typical of large-scale industrial-type applications.”

- EIR, Santa Cruz’s Integrated Water Plan (2005)

It’s not feasible..

City Council:

“We want a carbon-neutral plant.”

City Council:

“We want a carbon-neutral plant.”

How can the plant be carbon neutral when renewable energy to power the plant has been ruled out?

Consultant to Santa Cruz:

Buy Renewable Energy Credits to claim credit for renewable power.

“Little Green Lies” “Often the Renewable Energy Credit trade seems like little more than buying and selling bragging rights, rather than incentives that lead to the construction of wind turbines and solar panels.”

- “Little Green Lies”, Business Week, Oct 29, 2007

The public must be firm and unwavering in demanding “no offsets” because this sort of monkey business is exactly the type of thing that politicians love and will try to keep. - James Hansen

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The problem that the City was

trying to solve

•  2003 Integrated Water Plan estimated a 45% shortfall in a worst-case drought

What happened

•  Actual demand dropped significantly

1998 Estimate of Water Demand (Maddaus)

actual water demand through 1998

2003 Adjustment for IWP

Desal

Water Supply Advisory Committee

Task: “…analyze potential solutions to deliver a safe, adequate, reliable and environmentally sustainable water supply.”

The Water Supply Advisory Committee considerations: 1.  Fish habitat constraints on water diversion 2.  Climate change resulting in lower stream flow

The Water Supply Advisory Committee considerations: 1.  Fish habitat constraints on water diversion 2.  Climate change resulting in lower streamflow

WSAC technical team: •  3 billion in storage solves the problem •  7 billion available storage in the aquifers

Depressed groundwater levels provide an opportunity for GW Replenishment and Banking -Kennedy/Jenks

Winter river water stored in the aquifers

Well water to Santa Cruz in droughts

Aquifer Recharge Concept AKA: Water Banking

Injection wells

Aquifer Recharge Strategies

In lieu recharge

Aquifer Recharge Strategies

Storm water infiltration

Aquifer Recharge Strategies Before

After

Kennedy/Jenks (2011) re: storm water infiltration

•  1000 acre feet per year lost due to impervious surfaces in Scotts Valley Dr. & Mt. Hermon Rd area

•  Average Scotts Valley use (2010-2013) = 1350 acre feet/year

Aquifer Recharge = Win-Win-Win

ü Reverse salt water intrusion ü Bank water for droughts ü Restore base-flow in streams

Conservation Measures

ü  Interim strategy for water security, pending aquifer recharge

Lake levels: Difference between 80% full and 64% full = 450 million gals

Desal output for 6 mo. = 455 million gals

Conservation Measures

ü  Saves $$ on water supply investments

e.g. Desal EIR: desal cost per million gallons = $10,750 Current water supply cost/mg = $500

Conservation Measures

ü  Saves energy

Conservation Pricing Conservation Measures

Beyond building code Climate-Appropriate Landscaping

40%60%

Fixed Volume