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The California-based ‘Stop Poseidon’ coalition, comprised of environmental justice, coastal and ocean conservation groups, digitally delivered 12,512 signatures and comments to the California Coastal Commission in opposition to the proposed Brookfield-Poseidon Desalination Plant – which would be expensive, unnecessary, and environmentally damaging.
“As a grassroots organization working to conserve the ocean and coasts, we thank the residents of California in joining alongside us – in solidarity – to voice their opposition to the devastation that the Brookfield-Poseidon plant would cause to Orange County and our state’s climate action and mitigation,” said Stop Poseidon coalition member Andrea León-Grossmann, who is the director of Climate Action at Azul. “These signatures, more than 12,500, are a clear statement to the California Coastal Commission that this project is not welcomed in our state or in the backyards of our communities.”
“The fact that we could collect over 12,000 signatures in such a short period shows how horrible this project really is and how much the community doesn’t want it,” said Ray Hiemstra, associate director of programs for Orange County Coastkeeper, a Stop Poseidon coalition member. “As an Orange County resident, it horrifies me to think I might ever have to have this water forced on me.”
See the petition, here. The proposed project is set to be heard before the California Coastal Commission on Thursday, May 12th for a permitting decision. The California Coastal Commission Staff recommended denial of the project in an April 25th staff recommendation.
The coalition is made up of Azul, the California Coastkeeper Alliance, California Coastal Protection Network, Orange County Coastkeeper and the Surfrider Foundation.
The proposed Brookfield-Poseidon Huntington Beach Desalination Plant has a long history of opposition, starting in the 1970’s. Learn more at California Desal Facts.
About the Stop Poseidon Coalition
Azul is a grassroots organization working with Latinxs to conserve coasts and oceans. It was founded in 2011 to bring Latinx perspectives and participation to ocean conservation and has long advocated for environmental justice and equity in the state of California, across the nation and at international levels.
California Coastkeeper Alliance represents watershed-focused California Waterkeepers as they fight for drinkable, swimmable, fishable waters for all Californians. It defends and expands California’s protective legislation and strengthens the function of our State Water Board.
California Coastal Protection Network (CCPN) works to uphold the core tenets of the California Coastal Act actively and effectively through policy, advocacy, and collaboration. We accomplish our mission by providing strong leadership to advance California’s 40-year legacy of coastal protection.
Orange County Coastkeeper was founded in 1999 with the mission to protect and promote sustainable water resources that are swimmable, drinkable, and fishable for present and future generations. Orange County Coastkeeper is a member of the International Waterkeeper Alliance, which has 236 different independent programs across 29 countries.
The Surfrider Foundation is dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s ocean, waves and beaches, for all people, through a powerful activist network.
