State Board Proposes Changes to Once-Through Cooling Policy
Lisa Lien-Mager
ACWA
05/18/2011
The State Water Resources Control Board is accepting comments through July 5 on proposed amendments to a policy requiring 19 coastal power plants to reduce the amount of ocean water they use for cooling.
The policy, adopted in May 2010, is aimed at reducing the number of aquatic organisms trapped on intake screens or sucked into power plants along with seawater in a process known as “once-through cooling.” The policy is implemented through permits issued by regional water quality control boards under the Endangered Species Act.
Owners and operators of fossil-fueled power plants were required to submit their plans for implementing the policy by April 1. Based on a review of plans submitted by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, the State Board is proposing amendments to the implementation schedule and other modifications.
