Interesting 1964 video produced by USAID telling the story of a solar powered desalinization plant designed and built in Puerto Penasco by the University of Arizona's Environmental Research Laboratory. I find it fascinating that this was built 50 years ago and powered by solar energy. Seems like you could also power one with the new wind turbine being installed in town. No shortage of salt water, sunshine, and wind around here.
30 plus years ago U od A researcher told me it was basically a extortion issue...fuzzy on details but think it had to do more with the shrimp research.
The more I read about this desalination plant it had more wrinkles than our beloved BoomerFest & Stuart's suit combined! It did however seem to work, just not meeting the expectations of the local residents. One misconception is the interpretation of "solar powered." I perceived it to mean receiving voltage to power equipment from photovoltaic cells. The reality is photovoltaic technology in this era was primitive and just being introduced in the powering of communications satellites. Solar powered desalination in Puerto Penasco referred to an age-old solar evaporation process that produced potable water. The shrimp research twist just leaves me shaking my head...