Siting, Transmission, and Environmental Protection Division

The mission of the Siting, Transmission, and Environmental Protection Division is to ensure that needed energy facilities are authorized in an expeditious, safe and environmentally acceptable manner. In addition, the division prepares environmental documentation for the Commission as required by the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). To attain its objectives, the division maintains a staff of experts in more than 20 environmental and engineering disciplines. The division's range of technical expertise allows it to perform balanced, independent evaluations of complex and controversial projects.

Prior to 1975, utilities were required to go through a multi-year process to obtain permits from numerous federal, state and local agencies before constructing new power plants. The Legislature established the California Energy Commission in 1975 and mandated a comprehensive siting process for new power plants. The Legislature gave the Energy Commission the statutory authority to license thermal power plants of 50 megawatts or greater along with the transmission lines, fuel supply lines, and related facilities to serve them.

Special Siting Division Meetings and Workshops

Watch this space for information on meetings regarding the Siting process, including proposed changes.

Developers

• Licensing Process
• Licensing Fees

Developer's Guides

• California Energy Commission Staff Cooling Water Management Program Guidelines for Wet and Hybrid Cooling Towers at Power Plants
  Draft Guidelines, publication # CEC-700-2005-025. (Acrobat PDF file, 10 pages, 199 kilobytes)
• Energy Facility Licensing Process: Water Supply information
  Staff Report / Draft, December 11, 2000. (Adobe Acrobat PDF file, 6 pages, 30 kilobytes)
• Energy Facility Licensing Process: Developers Guide of Practices and Procedures
  Staff Report / Draft, December 7, 2000. (Adobe Acrobat PDF file, 70 pages, 195 kilobytes)
• SECTION 1769 COMPLIANCE REGULATIONS (Link to new page to be provided)
  Fact sheet on Post-certification Amendments and Changes to Power Plant Licenses

Public

• Public Adviser
• Public Participation Guide
  (PDF file, 1.7 MB)
• Docket Unit

Reports, Brochures and Fact Sheets

• Title 20 California Code of Regulations
• Siting Division Reports
• Final Power Plant Decisions and Commission Siting Regulations
• Search All Commission Reports
• Fact Sheet - Summary of Power Plant Projects, 1998-Present
  

Other Reports

• State Auditor's 2007 Report on Solar Energy Siting
  (Posted: May 29, 2008, Acrobat PDF file, 53 pages, 1.44 megabytes)
• State Auditor's Report on Energy Commission Siting Process
  (Posted: August 24, 2001, Acrobat PDF file, 46 pages, 543 kilobytes)