Project Proceeding
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Humboldt Bay Repowering Project Power Plant Licensing Case
Docket Number:
06-AFC-07
(Application For Certification)
Committee Overseeing This Case:
Jeffrey D. Byron, Commissioner
Presiding Member
Karen Douglas, Commissioner
Associate Member
Hearing Officer: Gary Fay
Key Dates
- 5/15/08 - Final Staff Assessment is released.
- 11/29/07 - Preliminary Staff Assessment is released.
- 11/8/06 - Commission Declares Application "data adequate."
- November 8, 2006 - Commission accepts Application for Certification (AFC) as complete.
- September 29, 2006 - Application for Certification (AFC) filed with California Energy Commission.
General Description of Project
On September 29, 2006, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) submitted an Application for Certification (AFC) to construct and operate the Humboldt Bay Repowering Project (HBRP) in the City of Eureka, Humboldt County. As part of our review process, the staff of the Energy Commission works closely with local, state and federal agencies to ensure that all laws, ordinances, regulations and standards are met and incorporated into the final decision of the California Energy Commission.
The proposed HBRP site would be located at 1000 King Salmon Avenue, Eureka, California. This project will be located on 5.4 acres within a 143-acre parcel currently occupied by the existing PG&E Humboldt Bay Power Plant. The HBRP will be a load following power plant consisting of ten (10) natural gas-fired Wartsila 18V50DF 16.3 megawatt (MW) reciprocating engine-generator sets and associated equipment with a combined nominal generating capacity of 163 MW. The HBRP will also be capable of running on California Air Resources Board (CARB)-certified diesel fuel in order to ensure local area reliability during instances of natural gas curtailment in the region as required by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and PG&E's CPUC Gas Tariff Rule 14. This project is a replacement of the existing 105 MW Units 1 and 2 and the two 15 MW Mobile Emergency Power Plants (MEPP) at PG&E's Humboldt Bay Power Plant site.
Air emissions from the proposed facility would be controlled using best available control technology applied to each engine's exhaust. Each system would consist of a selective catalytic reduction unit for oxides of nitrogen (NOx) control and an oxidation catalyst unit for carbon monoxide (CO) and volatile organic compounds (VOC) control. In order to be considered for licensing by the Energy Commission, the project would be required to conform with rules and regulations of the North Coast Unified Air Quality Management District (NCUAQMD) and be issued a Determination of Compliance from NCUAQMD.
The HBRP proposes using approximately 2,400 gallons of water per day (2.7 acre-feet/year) on average for cooling or other industrial purposes, which is a fraction of the water required for traditional combined-cycle turbine design. The generators will use an air radiator cooling system in a closed loop system (similar to automobiles). The HBRP will discharge industrial and sanitary wastewater into the Humboldt Community Services District (HCSD) sanitary sewer system at an average rate of about 860 gallons per day. Raw water for industrial processes and site landscape irrigation will be supplied from PG&E's existing ground water well via a direct connection to an onsite 6-inch-diameter water pipeline. Domestic water required for non-process uses (i.e., sinks, toilets, showers, drinking fountains, eye wash/safety showers, etc.) will be provided from a new 4- to 6-inch-diameter on-site pipeline running 1200 feet to a connection with the existing HCSD line that runs along King Salmon Avenue.
The project would be connected from the generators to the existing switchyard via two 60 kilovolt (kV) tie lines and one 115-kV tie line. No new transmission lines will be required. Natural gas would be supplied to the HBRP via an onsite 10-inch-diameter, high-pressure, natural gas pipeline owned and operated by PG&E.
Assuming the HBRP receives a license from the Energy Commission by November 2007, construction of the project would start in early spring 2008. Pre-operational testing of the power plant would begin in summer of 2009, and full commercial operation is expected to begin by fall of 2009.
Energy Commission Facility Certification Process
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:
John Kessler
Project Manager
Systems Assessment & Facility Siting Division
California Energy Commission
1516 Ninth Street, MS-15
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-654-4679
E-mail: jkessler@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: pao@energy.state.ca.us
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Media & Public Communications Office
Phone: 916-654-4989
E-mail: mediaoffice@energy.state.ca.us