***************************************************************** NEWS RELEASE FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENERGY COMMISSION ***************************************************************** FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: October 24, 1995 Mary Ann Costamagna 916-654-4989 ENERGY COMMISSION'S SITING COMMITTEE RECOMMENDS SFEC BAYVIEW HUNTERS POINT AREA POWER PLANT FOR LICENSING SACRAMENTO - The San Francisco Energy Company's (SFEC) proposed 240 megawatt (MW) cogeneration powerplant located in the Bayview Hunters Point area of San Francisco today was recommended for licensing by the California Energy Commission's Siting Committee (Committee). The Committee's recommendation, contained in the Presiding Member's Proposed Decision (Proposed Decision), is subject to approval by the full five-member Energy Commission. According to the Committee, the project is entitled to certification under the terms of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and based on the evidence presented after formal public hearing. The Committee found that with SFEC's conditions of certification, the project is consistent with all environmental laws, land use plans and meets the concerns of local residents. In the 670 page Proposed Decision, the Committee reviewed the SFEC project in 28 separate topics. These subject areas included the need for electricity from the powerplant, community impacts, environmental impacts, public health and safety, alternatives, and engineering. Electricity from the project will be sold to the Pacific Gas & Electric Company (PG&E) and the steam from the project will be sold to San Francisco Thermal for district heating and cooling or to the San Francisco's Southeast Water Pollution Control Plant. The project will ensure a reliable supply of electricity to the City of San Francisco. Sally Rakow, the Energy Commission's Vice Chair and the Committee's Presiding Member, said, "Under the terms that we set forth in the Proposed Decision, the SFEC project complies with approximately 186 different federal, state, regional and local laws, ordinances, regulations and standards. Public interest and participation in these proceedings has been instrumental in project changes involving plant location, toxic materials handling, noise reduction, visual impacts, traffic and socioeconomics, to name a few. "The SFEC project that this Committee recommends for licensing, promises to bring with it environmental and economic advantages, during construction and over the life of the facility," said Vice Chair Rakow. The Commission's "open planning" powerplant licensing process has provided local residences an opportunity to comment on SFEC's proposal. Thirty-five of a total of 41 public meetings or hearings were held in San Francisco or in the Bayview Hunters Point community to ensure convenient and direct community involvement in the Committee's decision making process. According to the Proposed Decision, SFEC will purchase air emission offsets. The project would also displace older, more polluting and less economical PG&E powerplants. This will result in a regional net air quality benefit for the Bay Area and reduce air-borne public health risks. The SFEC Project represents a $186 million investment. The company has committed to employ half of its construction and operations workforce from the Bayview Hunters Point community. The project will contribute approximately $2 million a year in taxes. Approximately half this amount will be directed to the City of San Francisco's General Fund with the remainder going to different funds including fees to the San Francisco School District. Located on Port property, SFEC's project lease payments to the Port will amount to $100 million over 30 years. The Committee's licensing recommendation includes a Bayview Hunters Point area community benefit package amounting to $13 million paid over the life of the project. The community-based Bayview Hunters Point Clean Environment Coalition, a unique feature of the proposed licensing conditions, will assist the Commission in various aspects regarding the disbursement of community benefit funds, conditions of compliance, certification and other matters relating to the construction and operation of this proposed project. An additional hearing to receive public comment on the Proposed Decision will be held: Thursday, November 16, 1995 4:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. California Public Utilities Commission Auditorium 505 Van Ness Avenue San Francisco Members of the public have until November 27, 1995, to comment on the Proposed Decision. A final decision by the Commission on the proposed project is expected in December. The California Energy Commission is responsible for reviewing all thermal powerplants 50 megawatts and larger. The Commission's review process includes a comprehensive and objective analysis of all issues including but not limited to public health and safety, air quality, hazardous materials, environmental impacts, engineering design and need. # # # Note to Editors: Copies of the entire Proposed Decision on the SFEC facility are being delivered today to the following San Francisco Bay Area libraries: San Francisco Public Library Civic Center San Francisco, CA 94102 Visitacion Valley Branch Library 45 Leland Avenue San Francisco, CA 94134 Anna E. Waden Library 5075 Third Street San Francisco, CA 94124 The Introduction and Summary portions of the Proposed Decision on the SFEC power plant is also available on Internet at: Homepage - http://www.energy.ca.gov/energy/energy/homepage.html Gopher - gopher://energy.ca.gov end of file File Name 95-10-24_Committee_Recommends_SF_Energy_Cogeneration_Power_Plan