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Rio Mesa Solar Electric Generating Facility
Docket Number:
2011-AFC-04
(Application For Certification)
Committee Overseeing This Case:
Carla Peterman, Commissioner
Presiding Member
Karen Douglas, Commissioner
Associate Member
Hearing Officer: Kourtney Vaccaro
Key Dates
- 10/14/2011 - Application for Certification (AFC) filed
- 12/14/2011 - Commission accepts AFC as "data adequate."
Project Description
The Rio Mesa Solar Electric Generating Facility (Rio Mesa SEGF) is being proposed for development by Rio Mesa Solar I, LLC, Rio Mesa Solar II, LLC, and Rio Mesa III, LLC, subsidiaries of BrightSource Energy, Inc., a Delaware corporation.
The proposed project site consists of three 250-megawatt (MW) (nominal) solar concentration thermal power plants situated on the Palo Verde Mesa in Riverside County, California, 13 miles southwest of Blythe, and is located partially on private land and partially on public land administered by the United States Bureau of Land Management (BLM). Each plant will utilize a solar power boiler, located on top of a concrete tower (approximately 750-feet tall), surrounded by heliostat (mirror) fields (approximately 85,000 per plant) which focus solar energy on the boiler. Auxiliary boilers will be used to operate in parallel with the solar field during partial load conditions and when additional power is needed.
Each 250 MW plant requires about 1,850 acres (or 2.9 square miles) of land to operate. A 119 acre common area will include a combined administration, control, and maintenance facilities. The total area required for all three plants, including the shared facilities, is approximately 5,750 acres.
Energy Commission Facility Certification Process
The California Energy Commission is the lead agency (for licensing thermal power plants 50 megawatts and larger) under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has a certified regulatory program under CEQA. Under its certified program, the Energy Commission is exempt from having to prepare an environmental impact report. Its certified program, however, does require environmental analysis of the project, including an analysis of alternatives and mitigation measures to minimize any significant adverse effect the project may have on the environment.
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