Count the reasons to oppose the plant

Their protestations to the contrary, “swing-vote” City Councilmen Gil Coerper and Don Hansen leave little doubt that they will vote on Jan. 9 to add a desalination plant to the list of industrial contaminators already blighting and polluting southeast Huntington Beach (“Two for the Show,” Independent, Dec. 8). But both elected officials misread the facts about Poseidon’s proposal and their constituents to come to seemingly foregone conclusions.

Until Poseidon Inc. promised construction unions a labor agreement last summer only, a handful of people spoke publicly in favor of its proposed desalination plant -- and most of them were paid lobbyists.

But Coerper -- who had promised to listen to his constituents -- characterized the thousands of Huntington Beach residents from all parts of the city who are on record as opposing the “Poseidon misadventure” -- and who have been the clear majority speaking out at city Council meetings -- as a handful of NIMBYs. He praised Poseidon’s corporate track record and added that he thought the desalination plant would be good for the southeast and the city as a whole.

Hansen, who also claims to put his constituents first, dismissed Poseidon’s opponents as either carpetbaggers or a mixed bag of whiners who pick and choose each other’s arguments to help their own points. He stated that he would insist upon good terms before giving Poseidon his vote, but said he believes that contract negotiations between the troubled water speculator and the city went “fine” and have been “hammered out.”

Poseidon’s desalination plant in Tampa Bay, Fla., which Coerper praises, was a dismal failure both technically and financially. The 10-mile pipeline needed for the plant would tear up streets in southeast Huntington Beach for the second time in recent years and expose toxic soil from the Ascon dump during construction. The plant itself would depend upon the environmentally outmoded AES power plant for operation, would add to air and ocean pollution, lower already degraded property values in the area and take away tourist revenues.

Contrary to Hansen’s assertion of tranquillity between the city and Poseidon, negotiators have deadlocked over how much utility tax is required. Poseidon, which previously insisted it is building a “water treatment” facility, now claims to propose a “water pumping” facility that requires only a five percent utility tax rate. But the city says the tax rate is 100% (or $800,000 annually). A costly lawsuit is practically guaranteed. Finally, Poseidon has reportedly pulled all promised perks, including a new library and senior center. Other promises of huge property tax intakes and cheap water have already been shown to contain more holes than the faulty water filters that Poseidon used at its failed Tampa Bay plant.

Poseidon’s opponents are united in their belief that the company’s proposed desalination plant is based on dubious promises and would harm our wonderful city’s quality of life. We hope that our elected officials are listening.

* JOHN EARL is a Huntington Beach resident and president of Residents for Responsible Desalination.