Cool Plant With Air, Not Seawater, Agency Asks

The California Coastal Commission recommended Thursday that the Morro Bay power plant be cooled with air, not seawater, when it is remodeled.

The commission said pumping seawater through and returning it to the ocean would harm sea life. The matter now goes to the California Energy Commission.

Duke Energy, which wants to modernize the aging plant, says air cooling is not feasible. The huge fans required would violate noise ordinances, a spokesman said, and the plant already uses seawater for cooling.