San Diego Coastkeeper
Law & Policy Clinic Campaigns
Duke Power Plant
Coastkeeper is working to force Duke Energy to repower its antiquated South Bay Power Plant (SBPP) to technology that will dramatically improve local water and air quality. The SBPP has operated on San Diego Bay for over 40 years, using outdated once-through cooling technology that effectively sterilizes up to 601 million gallons of San Diego Bay daily.
Coastkeeper is demanding that regulatory agencies require the facility to be upgraded to dry-cooling technology that can generate the same amount of electricity while using significantly less natural gas, emitting less air pollution, and avoiding the use of bay water completely. Coastkeeper seeks to foster a plan to upgrade (or relocate) the South Bay Power Plant so that it no longer impacts the health of San Diego Bay, with a long-term goal of enhancing habitat and recolonization of San Diego Bay. If successful, Coastkeeper will set an important precedent for similar battles going on in Morro Bay and Moss Landing (which both have antiquated Duke-operated power plants).