TJ SOLAR RIVER Center for Urban and Economic Design at UCSD

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1 TJ SOLAR RIVER Proposal for research study to regenerate the Tijuana River Canal into power producing and water remediation infrastructure for the city of Tijuana, Mexico Center for Urban and Economic Design at UCSD

2 Challenges The water discharged into the Tijuana River Canal is not fully treated and sent to the ocean affecting the Tijuana River Estuary and ocean water of both Tijuana and San Diego coasts. The Tijuana River Canal is an outdated one-function infrastructure based on urban technology of more than 40 years ago. The Canal currently has been used as temporary shelters by deportees from the U.S. living in dangerous and unsanitary ways. Major highways on both sides of the Tijuana River Canal are used by private and commercial vehicles increasing CO2 levels on adjacent residential and commercial areas.

3 Solution The Tijuana River Canal has a course of approximately 17 linear kilometers running through the center of the urban area of Tijuana from the southeast to the international border near the San Ysidro Point of Entry, with a width of approximately 125 meters. The canal water is fed from four sources: The Tecate Water Treatment Plant, The Morita Water Treatment Plant, The Monte de Los Olivos Treatment Plant and from run-off and discharge from the city. On average 20 million gallons per day, of much needed water, is discharged into the Pacific Ocean.

4 Solution Regenerate the Tijuana River Canal into large-scale energy producing infrastructure: By integration of a solar energy array via PV Panels spanning the width of the canal. In addition use a green systems water remediation based on Algae technology for the water in the canal. Re-use the water cleaned by the system for industrial and commercial use. Extensive dedicated areas of land away from the urban area are not required. Reduces significantly the costs of transport of energy to urban areas. Over the whole year (at 30% PV Panel efficiency) the system can capture: 365 d/yr x 2.4 kw-hr/d-m 2 = 876 kw-hr/yr-m 2.

5 Solution The existing concrete canal infrastructure is a heat reflecting surface creating a heat island effect creating an undesirable microclimate that mixes with vehicle pollution of the high speed roads on its perimeter producing a smog cloud conditions for the communities adjacent to the canal. PV panels over the canal can lower the temperature surface on the concrete diminishing the heat island effect and produce clean energy for commercial and industrial applications A tree grid on top of the canal and floating algae pools can be used to sequester CO2 levels generated by vehicle emissions and emit oxygen minimizing the production of green house gases. The algae remediation system can also produce a source of water for industrial and commercial use.

6 Funding Funding for the entire canal project, which includes vegetation, solar electricity generation and distribution, water purification and distribution would come from multiple sources in accordance with NadBank guidelines. Funding would include Nadbank technical assistance (10% match) Nadbank feasibility (10% match) Nadbank construction Cap and Trade investment for portions of construction, long term maintenance and monitoring/reporting on greenhouse gas reduction Related private sector grants and program related investments Technical assistance funding would focus on the development of design, construction costs, and financial feasibility. Design- this element would develop complete conceptual design opportunities and make preliminary calculations related to greenhouse gas reductions, solar power generation and delivery capability, long term maintenance costs and structures, related agency linkages and role definition/consents Construction costs this element would provide real time construction estimates for all elements of the design. It would also provide long term maintenance costs particularly for the greenhouse gas reduction elements. Financial Feasibility this element represents a very unique opportunity for combining Bank loans with cap and trade investment participation. Specific calculations related to actual reductions and commensurate valuations appropriate for prospectus presentation will be done. Specific attention to identifying potential investment partners will be achieved. Further, the opportunities for Bank loan repayment will be identified in conjunction with revenue producing elements of the overall design as well as the terms and duration of cap and trade investments..

7 Research Partners Jim Bliesner M.A., Lecturer UCSD Urban Studies and Planning Program, Woodbury University Architectural School graduate program. Director, Center for Urban Economics and Design (CUED), former Director of joint City and County of San Diego Task Force on Reinvestment (23 years). Accounted for over $52 million is private sector reinvestment into low income communities over that period. Barry J. Schultz, ESQ. has over 25 years experience in the community development field. Most recently, he served as chief executive officer to the San Diego Capital Collaborative, a non-profit community investment corporation. He was responsible for developing and implementing the socially responsible investment strategy for the San Diego Smart Growth Fund, a $90 million real estate equity fund targeting workforce and mixed use projects in San Diego s urban communities. Barry served as senior policy advisor and chief of staff to San Diego City Councilman William D. Jones. In this capacity he advised the councilman on housing, land use, and redevelopment issues. Barry served as a City of San Diego Planning Commissioner for 8 years. He is a member of the Urban Land Institute and has been appointed as the Urban Community Advisor at both the local and national levels Rene Peralta - Educated at the New School of Architecture in San Diego and at the Architectural Association in London, England. He is Senior Lecturer of the Tijuana Urban Design Studio at Washington University in St. Louis and teaches Latin American Urbanism at SCIArc in Los Angeles. Currently, he is Director of the Landscape + Urbanism Master of Science program at Woodbury University School of Architecture in San Diego and a lecturer in the UCSD Urban Studies and Planning Program. Carlos Graizbord - Director of the Environmental Protection Agency of the State of Baja California In 1996, Graizbord received an award for the revitalization of the Sherman Heights area in San Diego. As the Director of IMPLAN, he received first place considerations for the Grand Showcase Award at the ESRI-URISA International Conference in California, as a result of his work on applications on urban and regional planning with geographic information systems. In January 2001 Graizbord received an Award for his contributions to the urban development of Tijuana by El Mexicano, the most important newspaper of the Baja California region. Also in 2001 He was acknowledged in the conference California Water Policy 11 for the Alamar river Eco-Hydrologic project. Oscar Romo - Was the Coastal Training Program Coordinator for the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, based at the Tijuana River National Estuarine Research Reserve. He teaches Sustainable Development and Urban World Systems at the Urban Studies and Planning Program at UCSD; and is a delegate to the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. He is a member of the Mexican National Council on Sustainable Development. From he was the Mexican Chair of the Advisory Board at the Border Environment Cooperation Commission. In 2005 he joined the Citizens Forum at the United States Section of the International Boundary and Water Commission. On April 2007 he was recognized as Environmentalists of the Year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency..