Compliance Proceeding
Project Proceeding
August 1, 2007
Possible approval of Pacific Gas & Electric's petition to amend the existing certificate to change from once through cooling to dry cooling.
(See the Petition on the
Compliance Page)
To subscribe to this proceeding's e-mail ListServer, enter the following information completely:
Gateway Generating Station (formerly Contra Costa) Power Plant Project
Docket Number:
00-AFC-1C
(Compliance Proceeding)
00-AFC-1
(Application For Certification)
Committee Overseeing This Case:
William J. Keese, Commissioner
Presiding Member
Michal C. Moore, Commissioner
Associate Member
Hearing Officer: Garret Shean
Key Dates
- MAY 30, 2001 - Commission approves Contra Costa Project.
- April 30, 2001 - Committee releases its Presiding Member's Proposed Decision.
- March 5, 2001 - Staff releases its Final Staff Assessment of project.
- November 7, 2000 - Staff releases its Preliminary Staff Assessment of project.
- May 17, 2000 - Commission approves formal review of project.
- March 15, 2000 - Data Adequacy determination at Commission.
- January 31, 2000 - Application For Certification filed with Commission.
- September 1, 1999 - Southern Energy announces that it will undertake repowering of a power plant in California.
General Description of Project
On January 31, 2000, the Southern Energy Delta Limited Liability Company filed an Application for Certification (AFC) for the Contra Costa Power Plant Unit 8 Power Project (CCPP). The proposed CCPP Unit 8 Power Project will be a nominal 530 megawatt (MW), natural gas-fired, combined cycle, combustion turbine power plant located within the existing Contra Costa Power Plant site complex in Contra Costa County, just north of the City of Antioch.
The CCPP site is on Wilbur Avenue, one mile northeast of Antioch, on the southern shore of the San Joaquin River. Highway 4 and the Antioch Bridge are just east of the site. Immediately south and west of the site are existing industrial facilities. The river borders the north side, while a recreational marina, open space and additional industrial land uses occur east of the proposed project.
CCPP Unit 8's combined cycle power unit would consist of two natural gas-fired combustion turbine generators, two heat recovery steam generators (HRSGs), and a steam turbine generator. In the combined cycle process, electricity is created from the combustion turbines and the steam turbine. Natural gas is burned to fire the combustion turbines. Exhaust heat from the two combustion turbines is then used to generate steam in the HRSGs, which in turn drives the steam turbine electricity generator. The combined cycle process is considered to be "state of the art" in that it creates electricity more efficiently and creates less pollution than conventional power systems.
The natural gas fuel for Unit 8 would be supplied by the existing gas pipeline. Cooling water for Unit 8 would be supplied by re-use of the cooling water from the existing Units 6 and 7. According to the applicant's project description, no net increase in water withdrawal from the San Joaquin River is anticipated. Additional project facilities would include two 195-foot tall exhaust stacks on the heat recovery generators, a 10-cell water cooling tower, a turbine building, storage tanks, a control building, and electrical power transformers and transmission facilities to interconnect with the existing PG&E switchyard on the CCPP site complex. As described by the applicant, no additional electric transmission lines outside of the CCPP complex are needed to transmit Unit 8's electricity to the regional transmission grid.
Southern Energy Delta proposes to begin construction in early 2001, and start operation of CCPP Unit 8 by late 2002 or early 2003. The proposed project is estimated to cost between $250 and $300 million. During the 22-month construction period, approximately 285 construction workers would be employed. During operation, the CCPP Unit 8 would require 10 additional full time employees to the existing CCPP workforce of 53 employees.
CCPP Unit 8 would be operated as a merchant power facility, selling its energy via direct sales agreements and in the spot market via the California Power Exchange. Energy output and operational levels would vary according to demand in the deregulated California energy market. Electricity prices and operational levels would not be subject to California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) regulation.
Energy Commission Facility Certification Process
The Energy Commission's facility certification process carefully examines public health and safety, environmental impacts and engineering aspects of proposed power plants and all related facilities such as electric transmission lines, natural gas pipelines, etc. The Energy Commission is the lead agency 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.
For Questions About This Siting Case Contact:
Ron Yasny
Compliance Project Manager
Siting, Transmission and Environmental Protection Division
California Energy Commission
1516 Ninth Street, MS-2000
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-654-4048
E-mail: ryasny@energy.state.ca.us
For Questions About Participation In Siting Cases Contact:
Public Adviser
California Energy Commission
1516 Ninth Street, MS-12 Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-654-4489
Toll-Free in California: 1-800-822-6228
E-mail: PublicAdviser@energy.state.ca.us
News Media Please Contact:
Media & Public Communications Office
Phone: 916-654-4989
E-mail: mediaoffice@energy.state.ca.us