Proposed Power Projects - An Overview
Electricity Market Deregulation Sparks Private Sector Investment Proposals
Stimulated by the deregulation of state's retail electricity market, power project developers have indicated that, in addition to the four projects currently in the licensing process, plans for as many as eight more projects may be brought to the California Energy Commission for review.
Plant developers, ranging from independent entrepreneurial firms to consortiums of major utilities and construction companies, are expected to present the Commission with proposals for projects to produce more than 7,000 megawatts of energy to markets both inside and outside of California.
From all indications, this new generation of high-technology "merchant" power plants, paid for by private investors, not consumer ratepayers, will be cleaner, more efficient and more cost-effective than their aging predecessor plants.
The Energy Commission's power plant review, a 12-month process, ensures that all proposed projects comply with provisions of the Warren-Alquist Act and the California Environmental Quality Act prior to receiving a license to construct and operate such generation facilities.
Current power plant proposals under the review of the Energy Commission include:
- High Desert Power Project - Inland Energy and Constellation Energy filed an application for certification of a 680-830 megawatt natural gas-fired merchant power plant at the Southern California International Airport, Victorville, San Bernardino County, in June 1997.
- Sutter Power Project - Calpine Corporation filed an application for certification to develop a 530 megawatt natural gas-fired merchant power plant in Sutter County at the same site as their existing 49.5 megawatt Greenleaf Unit No.1 gasÐfired cogeneration power plant in December 1997.
- Pittsburg District Energy Facility, a subsidiary of Enron Capital and Trade Resources Corporation - Enron Corporation filed an application in June 1998 to build a 500 megawatt cogeneration project in Pittsburg with the city as a partner.
- La Paloma - U.S. Generating filed an application for certification in July 1998 to construct a 1050 megawatt plant near McKittrick, Kern County.
Other projects expected to be brought to the Energy Commission for review include:
- Otay Mesa Power Plant Project - U.S. Generating Inc. proposes to develop a 660 - 700 megawatt merchant power plant project at Otay Mesa in southern San Diego County near the border with Mexico.
- Pioneer (Livingston) Project - Bock Energy, Merced Irrigation District, Turlock Irrigation District, Foster Farms and General Electric are proposing to develop a 113 megawatt combined cycle power plant adjacent to the Foster Farms processing plant in the City of Livingston in Merced County.
- Sunlaw Cogeneration Partners I Project - Sunlaw Cogeneration Partners I is proposing to develop a natural gas-fired 800 megawatt combined cycle project to be located in the City of Vernon in Los Angeles County.
Information about current and anticipated applications for power plant licensing is available on the Energy Commission's Web Site located at: www.energy.ca.gov/sitingcases/index.html
# # #
Return to Recent News Releases Listings Page
Do you have a question about this News Release?
Call us at 916-654-4989 or send e-mail to:
energia@energy.ca.gov