Ponderable

Most So Cal tides are pitiful. The northern stretches of Sea of Cortez have tide swings of at least 6 feet and sometimes more than 20 feet depending on the phase of the moon. Land is cheap and there are big markets for power in easy reach. Tides are predictable, plus or minus wind and rain effects, and sometimes the maximum power available occurs during peak demand times.

http://sanfelipe.com.mx/weather/tide-calendars/
Even in a "pitiful" tidal swing, creative engineering can bottleneck enough water to create tremendous force.
 
Whose beach are you going to take?
I listened to a presentation once about building a floating airport for San Diego that would be just off the coast and include water "turbines" underneath to provide power for the facility . . . didn't get much traction.
 
I listened to a presentation once about building a floating airport for San Diego that would be just off the coast and include water "turbines" underneath to provide power for the facility . . . didn't get much traction.
I remember that.
I was thinking more something that can funnel tides through turbines.
 
My pal at work today (big Trump guy from day one) was telling me about something they built at Lake Hodges that was suppose to pump water to Olivenhain then send it back down the hill and generate power . . . seems it didn't work . . . he called it the money pit.
 
My pal at work today (big Trump guy from day one) was telling me about something they built at Lake Hodges that was suppose to pump water to Olivenhain then send it back down the hill and generate power . . . seems it didn't work . . . he called it the money pit.

The interconnecting tunnel was built to better manage the level of Lake Hodges, so that it doesn't waste water by overflowing in wet years like it used to. I remember coming back up Del Dios Highway after a game in RSF (in 2000?) when we pulled over to watch the overflow. When Hodges starts to get full, they pump water into Olivenhain, and when it is less full it can be used for extra storage. Before that tunnel was built, Hodges didn't contribute much to the local water management, despite being owned by the City of San Diego.

I don't recall ever hearing any idea about gaining any power from the pumps. Rule #1 - Energy is conserved.
 
My pal at work today (big Trump guy from day one) was telling me about something they built at Lake Hodges that was suppose to pump water to Olivenhain then send it back down the hill and generate power . . . seems it didn't work . . . he called it the money pit.
They had a plan to do that at Lake Elsinore. Problem was they planned to store the water in a canyon above the lake and people were concerned that the wildlife that lived there would have nowhere to go.
 
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