RE: 'Hard times for ratepayers but not FPUD employees' [Letter, Village News, 8/7/08]

Mr. Archie McPhee states, “Stage 1 does not prevent FPUD from exporting its/our potable water… California Energy Commission’s new requirements state FPUD will truck 6.9 million gallons of potable water/year and 3.9 million gallons of reclaimed water/year into Orange Grove Energy’s power plant.”

If McPhee had done his research as he has implored others to do, he would understand that the California Energy Commission requires that Orange Grove use only reclaimed water for its cooling requirements while process water, which is used in the turbine equipment, can be from either a potable or reclaim source.

FPUD sells Orange Grove potable water on an as-available basis, and despite what McPhee implied in his opinion piece, FPUD may restrict Orange Grove from taking potable water at its discretion. To ensure that a water supply can satisfy the maximum number of operating hours allowed under its permit, Orange Grove will pay FPUD for an allotment of reclaim water, whether it is consumed or not.

If Orange Grove runs in manner consistent with the historical operations of identical equipment at Miramar, it will operate only 200 hours per year and consume less than three acre-feet of total water. However, it will pay FPUD for a minimum of 45 acre-feet of reclaimed water. In addition, all water will be sold at a premium to in-district rates. Mr. Lewinger has taken wastewater and turned it into a 25-year revenue stream… not a bad deal for FPUD’s ratepayers.

James Pomillo

Development Advisor,

Orange Grove Energy