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Home My WebLink About6/6/2012 - STAFF REPORTS - 2.M. 9097987670 MUNICIPAL UTILITIES MUNICIPAL UTILITIESAND ENG 10:24:58 a.m. 06-06-2012 2/7 June 5, 2012 Honorable Mayor City Council Members City of Palm Springs, California Dear Members The following is a request for the Council to consider supporting an application for funding from the South Coast Air Quality Management District for a combination small pump storage hydroelectric generation facility, Whitewater River trailhead complex and natural lands preservation project. (Gateway Palm Spring, The Oasis Power Project). The request would be from the mitigation fund for the North Palm Springs gas fired "peaker plant" The proposed project would be located near the entry to the city of Palm Springs on portions of the Chino Cone and Angel Cove. The primary benefits would be enhancement of air quality in the Coachella Valley by providing clean hydro-electric power at peak times in lieu of fossil fuels. Valuable secondary benefits will include acquisition of key habitat and open space lands, provision of a terminus trail head for the proposed Whitewater River trail, the creation of a scenic focal point at the entry to the city and ongoing revenues to the city. The grant request is for$5. 850,000 and the project also includes partnering funds of $1, 550,0000 from agency and non profit sources. The primary use of the funds will be to assist in the purchase of the lands needed for the project purposes. Smaller portions of the funds are for desert lands protection and restoration and for administration and management of the design, and award of the power generation facility. It is proposed that the properties needed for the pump/storage facilty will be turned over to the City of Palm Springs or other appropriate local agency and the remaining lands become part of the national monument after protection and restoration. Attached hereto are: • a description of a pump/storage facility and its application to this project area • a listing of air quality ad secondary benefits of the project !`tdA4i'01V-1.1 ll6i J% YV" M �JI'l/a 9097987670 MUNICIPAL UTILITIES MUNICIPAL UTILITIES AND ENG 10:25:14 a.m. 06-06-2012 3/7 • a sketch of the proposed lower pool/trail head facility The Friends of Palm Springs Mountains is a 501 c3 non-profit corporation dedicated to the protection and public use of the Chino Cone and other scenic and habitat resources of the city. Its members include connection to numerous other environmental organizations in Palm Springs and the Coachella Valley. In conclusion, it is respectfully requested that the Palm Springs City Council consider supporting the Friends of Palm Springs Mountain's request of $5,850,000 in response to the South Coast A.Q.M.D.'s RFP #P2012-17 to be used for the Gateway Palm Springs project. Thank ou for your consideration A..4r.. A Pete Dangermond Executive Director Friends of the Palm Springs Mountains 9097987670 MUNICIPAL UTILITIES MUNICIPAL UTILITIESAND ENG 10:25:25 a.m. 06-06-2012 4/7 Pump/Storage Hydroelectric Facilities A pump/storage facility functions by pumping water to an upper pool or reservoir during the middle of the night and dropping it back down during peak demand times in mid afternoon and early evening. In essence, the water in the upper reservoir functions like a battery, storing potential energy generation for when most needed. The system is "recharged" using surplus wind and nuclear energy in the middle of the night and then using it in lieu of fossil fuel energy at peak times during the day. The proposed facility will be a small pump/storage project, requiring relatively small upper and lower pools and a small pump/powerhouse. The pools will be approximately 225 acre ft capacity (15 acres size and 15 feet deep). The upper pool is proposed near the intersection of Tramway Road and the flood protection dike. The second pool is 600' in elevation lower--near Highway 111 and Ship Rock. It is proposed that the lower pool be larger in size, with some additional capacity, in order to always contain some water, and to be a positive amenity as one approaches the city. 9097987670 MUNICIPAL UTILITIES MUNICIPAL UTILITIESAND ENG 10:25:41 a,m, 06-06-2012 5/7 Project Benefits A project is judged for its mitigation benefits to air quality. This Palm Springs Gateway project improves Coachella Valley air quality in two ways: 1. Dust control and 2. Creation of alternative energy sources to avoid burning of fossil fuels. Dust control will be implemented through controlled access and restoration of desert off-road trails at the entry to the Palm Springs in Angel Cove. Creation of alternative energy sources for use at peak use times, directly reduces the need for power generation with the fossil fuel fired Peaker Plant. This alternative energy pump storage facility, will utilize excess wind energy and nuclear power in the middle of the night to pump water up. The pump storage facility will be useful for the above reasons, but will probably be best known for the numerous secondary public benefits that it will provide. They include: 1. Protect, in perpetuity, the scenic Angel Cove open space area at the entry to Palm Springs. Angel Cove is characterized by the comparatively level sandy desert floor with the steep, rocky cliff backdrop which seems to leap up through the earth. 2. Related to the protection of the area is the prevention of destruction of desert habitat by off road vehicles. Restoration of existing disturbances is also proposed. 3. Purchase of the area also benefits lands proposed for preservation in the Coachella Valley Multi-species Habitat Plan and for addition to the San Jacinto/ Santa Rosa Mountain National Monument. 4. It is proposed that partnering funds from wildlife/habitat entities be utilized to assist in the acquisition of the area. Contained within the area to be acquired is a rocky outcropping feature known as "Ship Rock". The project provides for its protection and controlled appropriate access as part of the visitor and trail facilities connected with the project. 5. The lower pool used for the pump storage facility will be located so as to be visible from Highway 111 as visitors pass on their way into Palm Springs. It will 9097987670 MUNICIPAL UTILITIES MUNICIPAL UTILITIES AND ENG 10:26:01 a.m. 06-06-2012 6/7 be a visible demonstration of a strategic "green energy" source similar to the nearby wind energy towers. 6. The lower pool can also be situated so as to afford a location for the western terminus/trailhead of the proposed Whitewater River Trail. Provision of a scenic destination/starting point for the trail in such a strategic and visible location will provide immeasurably to the trail's value. It is proposed that, as a part of this trailhead feature, the trail loop around the entire lower pool; with a stop at Ship Rock. Potentially, the trailhead could also be a part of a more rigorous loop trail up the Chino Cone. 7. The lower pool is proposed to be situated so as to place the trail terminus in an area protected from the wind, with views over the lower pool to the wind energy towers in the background. It would afford an excellent location to interpret Palm Springs and the Valley's commitment to the various forms of "Green Energy". s. Another possible benefit to be explored is the potential to utilize the lower pool for water recharge purposes. The Water District has a series of basins in the middle of the pass and it might be beneficial to utilize the lower pool as an adjunct to their system. 9. The upper pool area is located in a comer of property much desired for its scenic open space and habitat values. The overall property is rich in desert riparian and upland habitats, but is particularly valued for its benefits to Bighorn sheep. A vital corridor for the sheep traverses through the middle of the property and is the only viable connector to the entire north face of Mount San Jacinto. As such, it is of the highest priority to wildlife agencies and the environmental community. As with the lower pool/Angel Cove area, it is proposed that partnering funds be obtained to assist in acquiring the remainder of the total area. 10. It is proposed that the upper pool be constructed so as to be visible from Tramway Road. As such, the location would afford great views over the pool of the desert floor, as well as back towards the mountains. It could become an attractive stop for the numerous walkers and bicyclists using Tramway Road. 11.Lastly, the proposed lease of land for the pump storage facility could provide an ongoing revenue source for the City, including open space protection efforts, restoration, and management of areas on and around the Chino Cone. 0 V W V V O Highway 111 D , c r Angel Cove f Mountain Gate Ship / Rock WhitewaterTr i n / ' /• w ` .�11 �� Pool Lower Chino r PalmSprings �u�� i Cree Toz Flood Control Dike Mountains 0 r Chino Cone _/ �rraiit,ead I'/ 1 Dayuse Area - J M l_�