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Amid drought, California desalination project at crossroads

Community members opposed to a proposal to build a $1.4 billion desalination plant in Huntington Beach holds signs at a California Coastal Commission hearing in Costa Mesa, Calif., Thursday May 12, 2022.For more than two decades, California's Orange County has debated whether to build a seaside plant to convert the Pacific Ocean's salt water into drinking water in hopes of buffering against droughts like the one now gripping the nation's most populous state. (AP Photo/Amy Taxin)

Community members opposed to a proposal to build a $1.4 billion desalination plant in Huntington Beach sit with signs at a California Coastal Commission hearing in Costa Mesa, Calif., Thursday May 12, 2022. For more than two decades, California's Orange County has debated whether to build a seaside plant to convert the Pacific Ocean's salt water into drinking water in hopes of buffering against droughts like the one now gripping the nation's most populous state. (AP Photo/Amy Taxin)

Community members opposed to a proposal to build a $1.4 billion desalination plant in Huntington Beach holds signs at a California Coastal Commission hearing in Costa Mesa, Calif., Thursday May 12, 2022.For more than two decades, California's Orange County has debated whether to build a seaside plant to convert the Pacific Ocean's salt water into drinking water in hopes of buffering against droughts like the one now gripping the nation's most populous state. (AP Photo/Amy Taxin)

Community members opposed to a proposal to build a $1.4 billion desalination plant in Huntington Beach sit with signs at a California Coastal Commission hearing in Costa Mesa, Calif., Thursday May 12, 2022. For more than two decades, California's Orange County has debated whether to build a seaside plant to convert the Pacific Ocean's salt water into drinking water in hopes of buffering against droughts like the one now gripping the nation's most populous state. (AP Photo/Amy Taxin)

Community members opposed to a proposal to build a $1.4 billion desalination plant in Huntington Beach holds signs at a California Coastal Commission hearing in Costa Mesa, Calif., Thursday May 12, 2022.For more than two decades, California's Orange County has debated whether to build a seaside plant to convert the Pacific Ocean's salt water into drinking water in hopes of buffering against droughts like the one now gripping the nation's most populous state. (AP Photo/Amy Taxin)

Community members opposed to a proposal to build a $1.4 billion desalination plant in Huntington Beach sit with signs at a California Coastal Commission hearing in Costa Mesa, Calif., Thursday May 12, 2022. For more than two decades, California's Orange County has debated whether to build a seaside plant to convert the Pacific Ocean's salt water into drinking water in hopes of buffering against droughts like the one now gripping the nation's most populous state. (AP Photo/Amy Taxin)

Community members opposed to a proposal to build a $1.4 billion desalination plant in Huntington Beach holds signs at a California Coastal Commission hearing in Costa Mesa, Calif., Thursday May 12, 2022.For more than two decades, California's Orange County has debated whether to build a seaside plant to convert the Pacific Ocean's salt water into drinking water in hopes of buffering against droughts like the one now gripping the nation's most populous state. (AP Photo/Amy Taxin)

Community members opposed to a proposal to build a $1.4 billion desalination plant in Huntington Beach sit with signs at a California Coastal Commission hearing in Costa Mesa, Calif., Thursday May 12, 2022. For more than two decades, California's Orange County has debated whether to build a seaside plant to convert the Pacific Ocean's salt water into drinking water in hopes of buffering against droughts like the one now gripping the nation's most populous state. (AP Photo/Amy Taxin)

Community members opposed to a proposal to build a $1.4 billion desalination plant in Huntington Beach holds signs at a California Coastal Commission hearing in Costa Mesa, Calif., Thursday May 12, 2022.For more than two decades, California's Orange County has debated whether to build a seaside plant to convert the Pacific Ocean's salt water into drinking water in hopes of buffering against droughts like the one now gripping the nation's most populous state. (AP Photo/Amy Taxin)

Community members opposed to a proposal to build a $1.4 billion desalination plant in Huntington Beach sit with signs at a California Coastal Commission hearing in Costa Mesa, Calif., Thursday May 12, 2022. For more than two decades, California's Orange County has debated whether to build a seaside plant to convert the Pacific Ocean's salt water into drinking water in hopes of buffering against droughts like the one now gripping the nation's most populous state. (AP Photo/Amy Taxin)

Community members opposed to a proposal to build a $1.4 billion desalination plant in Huntington Beach holds signs at a California Coastal Commission hearing in Costa Mesa, Calif., Thursday May 12, 2022.For more than two decades, California's Orange County has debated whether to build a seaside plant to convert the Pacific Ocean's salt water into drinking water in hopes of buffering against droughts like the one now gripping the nation's most populous state. (AP Photo/Amy Taxin)

Community members opposed to a proposal to build a $1.4 billion desalination plant in Huntington Beach sit with signs at a California Coastal Commission hearing in Costa Mesa, Calif., Thursday May 12, 2022. For more than two decades, California's Orange County has debated whether to build a seaside plant to convert the Pacific Ocean's salt water into drinking water in hopes of buffering against droughts like the one now gripping the nation's most populous state. (AP Photo/Amy Taxin)

Community members opposed to a proposal to build a $1.4 billion desalination plant in Huntington Beach holds signs at a California Coastal Commission hearing in Costa Mesa, Calif., Thursday May 12, 2022.For more than two decades, California's Orange County has debated whether to build a seaside plant to convert the Pacific Ocean's salt water into drinking water in hopes of buffering against droughts like the one now gripping the nation's most populous state. (AP Photo/Amy Taxin)

Community members opposed to a proposal to build a $1.4 billion desalination plant in Huntington Beach sit with signs at a California Coastal Commission hearing in Costa Mesa, Calif., Thursday May 12, 2022. For more than two decades, California's Orange County has debated whether to build a seaside plant to convert the Pacific Ocean's salt water into drinking water in hopes of buffering against droughts like the one now gripping the nation's most populous state. (AP Photo/Amy Taxin)

Community members opposed to a proposal to build a $1.4 billion desalination plant in Huntington Beach holds signs at a California Coastal Commission hearing in Costa Mesa, Calif., Thursday May 12, 2022.For more than two decades, California's Orange County has debated whether to build a seaside plant to convert the Pacific Ocean's salt water into drinking water in hopes of buffering against droughts like the one now gripping the nation's most populous state. (AP Photo/Amy Taxin)

Community members opposed to a proposal to build a $1.4 billion desalination plant in Huntington Beach sit with signs at a California Coastal Commission hearing in Costa Mesa, Calif., Thursday May 12, 2022. For more than two decades, California's Orange County has debated whether to build a seaside plant to convert the Pacific Ocean's salt water into drinking water in hopes of buffering against droughts like the one now gripping the nation's most populous state. (AP Photo/Amy Taxin)

Community members opposed to a proposal to build a $1.4 billion desalination plant in Huntington Beach holds signs at a California Coastal Commission hearing in Costa Mesa, Calif., Thursday May 12, 2022.For more than two decades, California's Orange County has debated whether to build a seaside plant to convert the Pacific Ocean's salt water into drinking water in hopes of buffering against droughts like the one now gripping the nation's most populous state. (AP Photo/Amy Taxin)

Community members opposed to a proposal to build a $1.4 billion desalination plant in Huntington Beach sit with signs at a California Coastal Commission hearing in Costa Mesa, Calif., Thursday May 12, 2022. For more than two decades, California's Orange County has debated whether to build a seaside plant to convert the Pacific Ocean's salt water into drinking water in hopes of buffering against droughts like the one now gripping the nation's most populous state. (AP Photo/Amy Taxin)

Community members opposed to a proposal to build a $1.4 billion desalination plant in Huntington Beach holds signs at a California Coastal Commission hearing in Costa Mesa, Calif., Thursday May 12, 2022.For more than two decades, California's Orange County has debated whether to build a seaside plant to convert the Pacific Ocean's salt water into drinking water in hopes of buffering against droughts like the one now gripping the nation's most populous state. (AP Photo/Amy Taxin)

Community members opposed to a proposal to build a $1.4 billion desalination plant in Huntington Beach sit with signs at a California Coastal Commission hearing in Costa Mesa, Calif., Thursday May 12, 2022. For more than two decades, California's Orange County has debated whether to build a seaside plant to convert the Pacific Ocean's salt water into drinking water in hopes of buffering against droughts like the one now gripping the nation's most populous state. (AP Photo/Amy Taxin)

Community members opposed to a proposal to build a $1.4 billion desalination plant in Huntington Beach holds signs at a California Coastal Commission hearing in Costa Mesa, Calif., Thursday May 12, 2022.For more than two decades, California's Orange County has debated whether to build a seaside plant to convert the Pacific Ocean's salt water into drinking water in hopes of buffering against droughts like the one now gripping the nation's most populous state. (AP Photo/Amy Taxin)

Community members opposed to a proposal to build a $1.4 billion desalination plant in Huntington Beach sit with signs at a California Coastal Commission hearing in Costa Mesa, Calif., Thursday May 12, 2022. For more than two decades, California's Orange County has debated whether to build a seaside plant to convert the Pacific Ocean's salt water into drinking water in hopes of buffering against droughts like the one now gripping the nation's most populous state. (AP Photo/Amy Taxin)

Community members opposed to a proposal to build a $1.4 billion desalination plant in Huntington Beach holds signs at a California Coastal Commission hearing in Costa Mesa, Calif., Thursday May 12, 2022.For more than two decades, California's Orange County has debated whether to build a seaside plant to convert the Pacific Ocean's salt water into drinking water in hopes of buffering against droughts like the one now gripping the nation's most populous state. (AP Photo/Amy Taxin)

Community members opposed to a proposal to build a $1.4 billion desalination plant in Huntington Beach sit with signs at a California Coastal Commission hearing in Costa Mesa, Calif., Thursday May 12, 2022. For more than two decades, California's Orange County has debated whether to build a seaside plant to convert the Pacific Ocean's salt water into drinking water in hopes of buffering against droughts like the one now gripping the nation's most populous state. (AP Photo/Amy Taxin)

Community members opposed to a proposal to build a $1.4 billion desalination plant in Huntington Beach holds signs at a California Coastal Commission hearing in Costa Mesa, Calif., Thursday May 12, 2022.For more than two decades, California's Orange County has debated whether to build a seaside plant to convert the Pacific Ocean's salt water into drinking water in hopes of buffering against droughts like the one now gripping the nation's most populous state. (AP Photo/Amy Taxin)

Community members opposed to a proposal to build a $1.4 billion desalination plant in Huntington Beach sit with signs at a California Coastal Commission hearing in Costa Mesa, Calif., Thursday May 12, 2022. For more than two decades, California's Orange County has debated whether to build a seaside plant to convert the Pacific Ocean's salt water into drinking water in hopes of buffering against droughts like the one now gripping the nation's most populous state. (AP Photo/Amy Taxin)

Community members opposed to a proposal to build a $1.4 billion desalination plant in Huntington Beach holds signs at a California Coastal Commission hearing in Costa Mesa, Calif., Thursday May 12, 2022.For more than two decades, California's Orange County has debated whether to build a seaside plant to convert the Pacific Ocean's salt water into drinking water in hopes of buffering against droughts like the one now gripping the nation's most populous state. (AP Photo/Amy Taxin)

Community members opposed to a proposal to build a $1.4 billion desalination plant in Huntington Beach sit with signs at a California Coastal Commission hearing in Costa Mesa, Calif., Thursday May 12, 2022. For more than two decades, California's Orange County has debated whether to build a seaside plant to convert the Pacific Ocean's salt water into drinking water in hopes of buffering against droughts like the one now gripping the nation's most populous state. (AP Photo/Amy Taxin)

Community members opposed to a proposal to build a $1.4 billion desalination plant in Huntington Beach holds signs at a California Coastal Commission hearing in Costa Mesa, Calif., Thursday May 12, 2022.For more than two decades, California's Orange County has debated whether to build a seaside plant to convert the Pacific Ocean's salt water into drinking water in hopes of buffering against droughts like the one now gripping the nation's most populous state. (AP Photo/Amy Taxin)

Community members opposed to a proposal to build a $1.4 billion desalination plant in Huntington Beach sit with signs at a California Coastal Commission hearing in Costa Mesa, Calif., Thursday May 12, 2022. For more than two decades, California's Orange County has debated whether to build a seaside plant to convert the Pacific Ocean's salt water into drinking water in hopes of buffering against droughts like the one now gripping the nation's most populous state. (AP Photo/Amy Taxin)

Community members opposed to a proposal to build a $1.4 billion desalination plant in Huntington Beach holds signs at a California Coastal Commission hearing in Costa Mesa, Calif., Thursday May 12, 2022.For more than two decades, California's Orange County has debated whether to build a seaside plant to convert the Pacific Ocean's salt water into drinking water in hopes of buffering against droughts like the one now gripping the nation's most populous state. (AP Photo/Amy Taxin)

Community members opposed to a proposal to build a $1.4 billion desalination plant in Huntington Beach sit with signs at a California Coastal Commission hearing in Costa Mesa, Calif., Thursday May 12, 2022. For more than two decades, California's Orange County has debated whether to build a seaside plant to convert the Pacific Ocean's salt water into drinking water in hopes of buffering against droughts like the one now gripping the nation's most populous state. (AP Photo/Amy Taxin)

This May 2, 2022, photo shows the AES Huntington Beach Energy Center in Huntington Beach, Calif. The AES facility, the proposed site of the Poseidon Huntington Beach Seawater Desalination Plant will face a critical vote by the California Coastal Commission (CCC) on Thursday, May 12. The highly contested project has been debated for more than two decades. The commission's staff issued a scathing report recommending the agency reject the project due to concerns about the impact on marine life, the cost to ratepayers, and the impact of sea-level rise on the low-lying area where it would be built. Business and labor groups argue it will provide another source of much-needed water. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

This May 2, 2022, photo shows the AES Huntington Beach Energy Center in Huntington Beach, Calif. The AES facility, the proposed site of the Poseidon Huntington Beach Seawater Desalination Plant will face a critical vote by the California Coastal Commission (CCC) on May 12. The highly contested project has been debated for more than two decades. The commission's staff issued a scathing report recommending the agency reject the project due to concerns about the impact on marine life, the cost to ratepayers, and the impact of sea-level rise on the low-lying area where it would be built. Business and labor groups argue it will provide another source of much-needed water. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

This May 2, 2022, photo shows the AES Huntington Beach Energy Center in Huntington Beach, Calif. The entrance to the AES facility, the proposed site of the Poseidon Huntington Beach Seawater Desalination Plant will face a critical vote by the California Coastal Commission (CCC) on Thursday, May 12. The highly contested project has been debated for more than two decades. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

This May 2, 2022, photo shows the AES Huntington Beach Energy Center in Huntington Beach, Calif. The AES facility, the proposed site of the Poseidon Huntington Beach Seawater Desalination Plant will face a critical vote by the California Coastal Commission (CCC) on Thursday, May 12. The highly contested project has been debated for more than two decades. The commission's staff issued a scathing report recommending the agency reject the project due to concerns about the impact on marine life, the cost to ratepayers, and the impact of sea-level rise on the low-lying area where it would be built. (AP Photo/Damian Dovarganes)

Amid drought, California desalination project at crossroads