STATE OF CALIFORNIA
ENERGY RESOURCES CONSERVATION
AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION

In the Matter of:                       )     Docket 03-IEP-01
                                        )
Informational Proceeding and            )     NOTICE OF COMMITTEE
Preparation of the 2004 Integrated      )     WORKSHOP ON THE
Energy Policy Report (IEPR) Update      )     AGING POWER PLANT STUDY
________________________________________)     

Attachment A
Proposed List of Plants for APPS Analysis

 

The Integrated Energy Policy Report (IEPR) Committee will conduct a second workshop on the Aging Power Plant Study (APPS) to discuss the preliminary information obtained in the investigation and the analysis conducted to date. The Energy Commission adopts an IEPR every two years and updates the report every other year. In the 2003 IEPR, the Energy Commission stated that it would conduct this study as part of the 2004 IEPR Update.

The IEPR process is guided by a Committee of two Commissioners, John L. Geesman, Presiding Member, and James D. Boyd, Associate Member. In preparing for the 2004 IEPR Update, the Committee will conduct this second APPS workshop on:

TUESDAY, MAY 18, 2004
10:00 a.m.
CALIFORNIA ENERGY COMMISSION
1516 Ninth Street
Hearing Room A
Sacramento, California
(Wheelchair Accessible)

Note: Audio from this workshop will be broadcast over the Internet.
For details on listening in, please go to: www.energy.ca.gov/realaudio/

Background

In the 2003 IEPR, the Energy Commission noted that the retirement of older generating units can affect reserve margins in the state. Estimates of the amount of generating capacity projected to retire over the next several years range from 4,630 MW to as much as 10,000 MW. The 2003 IEPR also noted that the state could help to reduce natural gas consumption for electric generation by taking steps to retire older, less efficient natural gas-fired power plants and replacing or repowering them with new, more efficient plants. In addition, the 2003 IEPR noted that the aging power plants are more polluting than modern power plants.

The Energy Commission is conducting the APPS to help provide information concerning the role these aging generating plants play in the overall electric utility system, especially to local and system-wide reliability, as well as examining the resource and environmental implications of the continued reliance on these plants.

The Study Process

The Committee conducted a workshop on March 24 to gather comments on the scope and proposed methodology for the APPS, and set a rough schedule for a series of public workshops to ensure that interested parties can actively participate in the study process. The Committee is seeking participation from a wide cross-section of parties concerned about California's aging power generation sector.

Based on information gathered to date, the Energy Commission staff proposes to reduce the list of power plants to be studied in the APPS, based on an initial assessment of the risk that any given generating unit would retire. The proposed list of aging units targeted for study of reliability issues in the APPS is shown as Attachment A. The staff intends to examine environmental and resource use issues of all the 66 units in the original list presented at the March 24 workshop, but proposes to focus the discussion of the potential effect on system reliability from aging plant retirements on the 50 units identified in Attachment A.

At the May 18 workshop, the Energy Commission staff will discuss the revised list of plants, and make presentations on the following topics: a synopsis of the comments received to date about the APPS, a discussion of the role the identified aging plants play in the electric generating system, an examination of their effects on natural gas use and the environment, a discussion of the economics of aging plant operations, and a proposed plan for completing the APPS. Several panel discussions will follow the presentations during which parties can discuss 1) the proposed APPS study list and the role the aging plants play in the system, 2) the present and anticipated plans, policies and projects that could affect aging plant economics, 3) reliability effects of plant retirements, and 4) environmental and public health effects of continued reliance on aging plants. The workshop will conclude with a general discussion on how to complete the APPS.

Workshop Participation and Comments

We invite public participation during this workshop. Workshop attendees are strongly encouraged to participate in any panel discussions. If you wish to join the panel, please contact Matt Trask at (916) 654-4067 or by e-mail at: [mtrask@energy.state.ca.us] by Friday, May 14, 2004. The public will also have the opportunity to comment immediately following the presentations and the panel discussions.

The Committee encourages interested parties to present their views either orally at the workshop or through written comments. The Committee requests that written comments on workshop topics be submitted by Tuesday, May 25, 2004. Please include the docket number 03-IEP-01 and indicate "Aging Power Plant Study" in the subject line or initial paragraph of your comments. Those submitting written comments by electronic mail should provide the comments in either Microsoft Word format or Portable Document Format, but parties must also submit one paper copy to the Energy Commission's Dockets Unit. E-mail comments should be sent to [docket@energy.state.ca.us]. Those submitting written comments by hard copy only must provide an original plus 12 paper copies to the Energy Commission's Dockets Unit.

Please send or deliver materials to the following address:

California Energy Commission
Dockets Office
Attn: Dockets 03-IEP-01
1516 Ninth Street, MS-4
Sacramento, CA 95814-5512

Alternatively, participants may provide an original and 12 copies at the beginning of the workshop. All written materials relating to this workshop will be filed with the Dockets Unit and will become part of the public record in this proceeding.

Additional Information

The Energy Commission's Public Adviser, Margret J. Kim, provides the public assistance in participating in Energy Commission activities. If you would like information on how to participate in this workshop, please contact the Public Adviser's Office by phone at (916) 654-4489 or toll-free at (800) 822-6228, by FAX at (916) 654-4493, or by e-mail at [pao@energy.state.ca.us]. If you have a disability and require assistance to participate in this workshop, please contact Lou Quiroz at (916) 654-5146 at least five days in advance.

Technical questions should be directed to Matt Trask, project manager for the APPS, at (916) 654-4067 or by email at [mtrask@energy.state.ca.us]. News media inquiries should be directed to Claudia Chandler, Assistant Executive Director, at (916) 654-4989.

 

Date Online: May 7, 2004

 

JOHN L. GEESMAN Commissioner and Presiding Member IEPR Committee

JAMES D. BOYD Commissioner and Associate Member IEPR Committee