WRCB Defers To Energy Regulators In Extending Gas Plant’s OTC Operation

California water board members say they are deferring to the expertise of the state’s energy regulators in approving an amendment to their once-through-cooling (OTC) policy that allows a two-year extension of the operation of a controversial coastal natural gas-fired power plant in southern California. “[W]here the energy agencies . . . make a unanimous recommendation for the compliance date revisions, based on grid reliability, the state water board shall afford significant weight to the recommendation,” said Water Resources Control Board...