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As former Sen. Barbara Boxer noted in her op-ed “South state desalination project is a ‘no-brainer’ ” (Viewpoints, April 30), California is facing a hotter and drier future. In order to keep our communities and economy thriving, we need to develop smart and reliable local water supplies. Fortunately, we can meet long-term needs without resorting to billion-dollar boondoggles like the proposed Huntington Beach desalination plant. There is a reason desalination companies are spending millions of dollars in lobbying. Proposals like the Huntington Beach plant can’t stand on their own merit.

As San Diegans start to crank their air conditioners, the city and the San Diego County Water Authority are developing a way to store energy by using water.  Water officials said it’s expected to save ratepayers money in the long run. The city and authority want to build an Energy Storage Facility at the San Vicente Reservoir.  Right now, the reservoir is an emergency water storage for San Diego.  It holds enough water to last 500,000 households an entire year. “Which would be vital if we couldn’t get water into the region,” said SDCWA Energy Program Manager Kelly Rodgers.

When Gov. Jerry Brown pronounced an end to the drought emergency last month — but not to the possibility of another drought — it would have been just like him to quote another eminent Californian, the naturalist John Muir, who said that “we all travel the Milky Way together, trees and men.” Not enough trees, though, which is why making “urban forests” come true truly matters.

Most people have basically no choice about where they get their power from – SDG&E’s monopoly covers 4,100 square miles of Southern California. Soon, that is likely to change as many California cities, including San Diego, look to start buying power for their residents. But even if the city begins to compete with San Diego Gas & Electric, people may still be forced to pay SDG&E for power for decades to come. The state allows companies to keep making people pay for power, even if people no longer use, want or need it.

The San Diego County Water Authority, in conjunction with the City of San Diego, is seeking proposals for a 500 MW pumped hydro power station.The water authority plans to issue a request for proposals this summer to solicit more detailed proposals from 18 respondents to an earlier request, but is also open proposals from parties that have not yet submitted proposals. The project would involve a 500 MW pumped storage facility at the San Vicente Reservoir that would be capable of storing energy for five to eight hours.