Information from California Energy Commission

Responding to Bert Hayden and James Pomillo, again, we have FPUD and buddies providing questionable information [Village News, 8/21/08]. I previously informed readers that FPUD’s Stage 1 drought management prevented FPUD from expanding its existing water service area/boundaries, which Hayden confirmed. However, Hayden did not inform readers that, under Stage 1, contractors/developers located inside FPUD’s service area will receive potable water for all new construction.

My information about Orange Grove Energy was obtained from California’s Energy Commission, which must approve Orange Grove Energy’s certification application for its power plant.

Readers, please go to the Web site http://www.energy.ca.gov/sitingcases/orangegrovepeaker/documents/index.html, then click on “Application for certification,” then on “Volume 1” and then on “water resources.” Go to pages 6.5-13/14, finding “Expected use for water is 21.1 AFY (acre/feet/year) for fresh water and 12.1 AFY for reclaim water. The maximum design fresh and reclaim water rates are 62 AFY and 38.7 AFY respectively.” Multiply AFY by 325,851 to obtain 6.9 million gallons/year fresh water and 3.9 million gallons/year reclaim water as well as 20.2 and 12.6 million gallons/year respectively.

These are California Energy Commission’s words/documents, the government entity which must approve certification, not Hayden’s, not Pomillo’s and not my words. FPUD claimed, in this document, it possesses excess amounts of potable water.

The above requirements, providing FPUD’s water to Orange Grove Energy, are conditions necessary for power plant certification by California’s Energy Commission. Are FPUD and Orange Grove Energy providing false information to California’s Energy Commission to obtain certification? Is this unlawful?

Archie McPhee