Orange County Supervisors approve MOU to explore supplying renewable landfill energy to SCWD’S Doheny Ocean Desalination Project – PublicCEO

Report on the Memorandum of Understanding for a Renewable Energy and Water Desalination Initiative in Orange County

1.0 Introduction

The Orange County Board of Supervisors has approved a non-binding Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between OC Waste & Recycling (OCWR) and the South Coast Water District (SCWD). This agreement initiates an exploratory phase to assess the feasibility of powering SCWD’s Doheny Ocean Desalination Project with renewable energy generated from the Prima Deshecha Landfill. This initiative represents a significant step towards integrated resource management, directly aligning with multiple United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in the areas of clean water, renewable energy, and sustainable communities.

2.0 Strategic Objectives and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

The partnership aims to create a circular economy model that addresses critical environmental and resource challenges in South Orange County. By converting landfill gas into a power source for desalination, the project provides a synergistic solution that enhances regional resilience and sustainability.

2.1 Core Mission

The primary goal is to establish a drought-resilient, locally controlled drinking water supply, thereby reducing the region’s dependence on imported water from nearly 90%. This directly supports the creation of sustainable and resilient infrastructure.

2.2 Contribution to Global Goals

The project is fundamentally aligned with the following Sustainable Development Goals:

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: By developing a new, local source of potable water through desalination, the project aims to ensure the availability and sustainable management of water for the community.
• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy: The initiative focuses on converting landfill gas, a byproduct of waste decomposition, into renewable electricity. This increases the share of renewable energy in the local grid and promotes clean energy technology.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The project strengthens local resilience against water shortages caused by natural disasters or other interruptions to imported supplies, making the community safer and more sustainable.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: It embodies the principles of sustainable production by transforming waste into a valuable resource (energy), thereby reducing waste generation and its environmental impact.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: Capturing and utilizing landfill gas for energy reduces the need for flaring, a process that releases greenhouse gases, thus contributing to climate change mitigation efforts.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The MOU itself is a prime example of a public-public partnership, demonstrating effective collaboration between different government agencies to achieve shared sustainability objectives.

3.0 Project Framework and Governance

The MOU establishes a formal structure for the due diligence phase of the project.

3.1 Renewable Energy to Desalination Exploratory Task Force

A joint task force will be formed to oversee the evaluation process. Its mandate is to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the project’s viability.

3.2 Phase 3 Workplan

The exploratory work will be guided by a Phase 3 workplan, which will assess the following key areas:

1. Technology and energy-recovery systems
2. Grid delivery pathways and utility coordination
3. Financial pro-forma, funding strategies, and cost objectives
4. Governance structure for the joint project
5. Permitting requirements and implementation schedule

4.0 Anticipated Benefits and Sustainability Impacts

The successful implementation of this project is projected to deliver significant benefits that advance regional sustainability goals.

4.1 Enhanced Reliability and Resilience (SDG 6 & SDG 11)

A local, baseload renewable energy source will support the steady operational profile of the Doheny Desalination facility, ensuring a reliable supply of 5 million gallons per day (MGD) of drinking water and securing the region’s water future.

4.2 Cost Stability (SDG 7)

Life-cycle analysis indicates favorable cost ranges for candidate technologies, which would support long-term price stability for both energy and water, a key component of providing affordable resources to the community.

4.3 Environmental Sustainability (SDG 7, SDG 12, & SDG 13)

The use of landfill gas is eligible under the Renewables Portfolio Standards (RPS). This approach reduces greenhouse gas emissions from flaring and aligns with regional climate action goals, promoting a cleaner environment.

5.0 Next Steps

The Task Force will commence Phase 3 activities immediately. Findings from the comprehensive evaluation will be presented to the SCWD Board of Directors and the Orange County Board of Supervisors for consideration and any future project approvals.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article discusses a project that connects several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by creating a solution that addresses environmental challenges related to water, energy, and waste management. The following SDGs are relevant:

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: The core of the project is the “Doheny Ocean Desalination Project,” which aims to create a “drought-resilient, locally controlled drinking water supply” to address the region’s water scarcity and dependence on imported water.
• SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy: The project plans to power the desalination plant with “renewable electricity from the Prima Deshecha Landfill,” turning “excess landfill gas into clean energy.” This focuses on creating a local, renewable energy source.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The initiative involves OC Waste & Recycling (OCWR) in managing municipal solid waste in a more sustainable way. By converting landfill gas to energy, it improves waste management and contributes to a more resilient urban infrastructure.
• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production: The project embodies principles of a circular economy by treating waste (landfill gas) as a resource. It focuses on “resource recovery” and using “all resources available,” which aligns with sustainable production patterns and waste reduction.
• SDG 13: Climate Action: A key environmental benefit mentioned is that using landfill gas for power “reduces flaring, aligning with regional climate goals.” Landfill gas is primarily methane, a potent greenhouse gas, so capturing and using it is a direct climate mitigation action.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The entire initiative is founded on a partnership, specifically a “Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between OC Waste & Recycling (OCWR) and South Coast Water District (SCWD).” This collaboration between two public agencies is essential for achieving the project’s goals.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the specific actions and goals described in the article, the following SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 6.1: “By 2030, achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.” The project directly supports this by creating a new, locally controlled source of drinking water to ensure supply reliability for the residents of South Orange County, especially in the face of interruptions to imported supplies.
2. Target 6.4: “By 2030, substantially increase water-use efficiency across all sectors and ensure sustainable withdrawals and supply of freshwater to address water scarcity…” The article highlights that “Nearly 90% of South County’s water comes from imported water supply,” and the project aims to create a “drought-resilient” supply, directly addressing water scarcity and reducing dependence on external, potentially unsustainable sources.
3. Target 7.2: “By 2030, increase substantially the share of renewable energy in the global energy mix.” The project’s plan to “explore delivering renewable electricity from the Prima Deshecha Landfill” by converting landfill gas to energy is a clear effort to increase the share of renewable energy in the local energy profile.
4. Target 11.6: “By 2030, reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities, including by paying special attention to air quality and municipal and other waste management.” The project is an example of advanced municipal waste management, where OCWR turns a harmful byproduct of landfills (gas) into a valuable resource, thus reducing the negative environmental impact of the city’s waste.
5. Target 12.5: “By 2030, substantially reduce waste generation through prevention, reduction, recycling and reuse.” While not reducing the initial waste, the project focuses on resource recovery from waste (“landfill gas to renewable energy”), which is a key component of sustainable waste management and reducing the final impact of waste generated.
6. Target 13.2: “Integrate climate change measures into national policies, strategies and planning.” The project’s goal of “reducing flaring, aligning with regional climate goals” demonstrates the integration of climate change mitigation measures into local infrastructure planning and policy.
7. Target 17.17: “Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships…” The project is a direct result of a public-public partnership between OCWR and SCWD, formalized through an MOU and the creation of a joint “Exploratory Task Force.”

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions or implies several specific indicators that can be used to measure progress:

• For SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation):
  • The planned capacity of the desalination plant, which is stated to be “5 MGD [Million Gallons per Day] of local water supply.” This is a direct measure of the new volume of safe drinking water provided.
  • The reduction in the percentage of water that is imported. The article establishes a baseline that “Nearly 90% of South County’s water comes from imported water supply,” so progress can be measured by the decrease in this dependency.
• For SDG 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy):
  • The amount of renewable electricity generated from landfill gas to power the Doheny facility. While a specific number is not yet given, the “Phase 3 workplan” will evaluate technology and capacity, which will define this indicator.
  • The cost-effectiveness of the energy produced, as the article mentions that a “life-cycle analysis in the report shows favorable $/kWh ranges,” indicating that the cost per kilowatt-hour is a key performance indicator.
• For SDG 11 & 12 (Sustainable Cities/Responsible Production):
  • The volume of landfill gas captured and converted to energy. This measures the effectiveness of the resource recovery process.
  • The reduction in the volume of landfill gas being flared, which is explicitly mentioned as a goal (“reduces flaring”).
• For SDG 13 (Climate Action):
  • The quantity of greenhouse gas emissions reduced by capturing and utilizing methane instead of flaring it. This is a direct indicator of the project’s climate mitigation impact.
• For SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals):
  • The successful establishment and operation of the “Renewable Energy to Desalination Exploratory Task Force.”
  • The delivery of the “Joint Task Force Report” and future approvals by the respective boards, which serve as milestones for the partnership’s effectiveness.

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: publicceo.com