STATE OF CALIFORNIA

Energy Resources
Conservation and Development Commission

APPLICATION FOR CERTIFICATION OF THE CENTRAL VALLEY ENERGY CENTER IN FRESNO COUNTY (CENTRAL VALLEY ENERGY CENTER, LLC)

DOCKET NO. 01-AFC-22 APPLICATION COMPLETE (DATA ADEQUATE) JANUARY 9, 2002

NOTICE OF INFORMATIONAL HEARING AND SITE VISIT

The California Energy Commission, a state agency, has exclusive jurisdiction to license new power plants that generate 50 megawatts (MW) or more. On October 31, 2001, Central Valley Energy Center, LLC (the Applicant) filed an Application for Certification (AFC) with the Energy Commission to construct and operate the Central Valley Energy Center, a nominal 1060 megawatt power plant to be located in the City of San Joaquin in Fresno County.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the Energy Commission has designated a Committee of two Commissioners to conduct proceedings on the Application. The Committee has scheduled a public Informational Hearing and Site Visit to discuss the CENTRAL VALLEY ENERGY CENTER as follows:

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2002
Site Visit begins at 3:30 p.m.
Public Informational Hearing begins at 5:00 p.m.
San Joaquin Community Center
22058 Railroad Avenue
San Joaquin, California [Wheelchair Accessible]

Prior to the Informational Hearing, members of the public are invited to join the Committee on a tour of the proposed site during daylight hours. Bus transportation to the site will leave from the San Joaquin Community Center parking lot at 3:30 p.m. Following the site visit, the buses will return to the San Joaquin Community Center and the informational hearing will convene at approximately 5:00 p.m. Persons intending to attend the site visit should make reservations for bus transportation with the Energy Commission's Public Adviser, Roberta Mendonca, by calling 916-654-4489 or, toll free at 800-822-6228 no later than Friday, February 1, 2002.

Landowners, members of the general-public, and interested agencies are invited to attend this event or any portion of this event, and question the Applicant and Energy Commission staff concerning the project. The Commission's Public Adviser, Roberta Mendonca, will be present to assist interested individuals or organizations and to provide information on participating in the Commission's certification process. Ms. Mendonca may be reached at (916) 654-4489 or, (800) 822-6228 or email: pao@energy.state.ca.us

Project Description

The Applicant, a wholly owned subsidiary of Calpine Corporation, proposes to construct and operate a 1060 MW power plant in an industrial area, on the southern edge of the City of San Joaquin. The proposed 25-acre project site is part of an 85-acre parcel of agricultural land located in a rural, sparsely populated portion of Fresno County. The proposed site is adjacent to Pacific Gas & Electric's (PG&E's) Helm substation. Major landmarks near the project site include the Mendota Wildlife Management Area, approximately 10 miles to the northwest, and the Fresno-Clovis Wastewater Treatment Facility, approximately 20 miles to the northeast.

The Central Valley Energy Center will be a combined cycle generating plant consisting of three natural gas-fired turbines and one steam turbine. The plant will use a mechanical draft evaporative cooling tower process. Approximately 7000-acre-feet per year of reclaimed water for cooling tower and process makeup water will be supplied by the Fresno-Clovis Wastewater Treatment Facility via 21 miles of 27-inch pipeline. The City of San Joaquin will provide domestic water for drinking, showers, sinks and general sanitary purposes. Natural gas for the plant will be provided via approximately 20 miles of new 24-inch pipeline that will connect to PG&E's existing transmission system located 20 miles west of the project site. The Central Valley Energy Center will connect to PG&E's electrical transmission system via PG&E's Panoche-McCall and Panoche-Kearney 230-kV transmission lines, which are located on a parcel to the south of the project site.

The engineering and environmental details of the proposed project are contained in the Application for Certification. A copy of the AFC is available at the San Joaquin Branch Library, 8781 Main Street, San Joaquin, California 93660 and at the Tranquility Branch Library, 5831 S. Juanche Avenue, Tranquility, California 93668. Copies have also been provided to the local public agencies that are involved in the review process.

The Central Valley Energy Center is proposed as a "merchant" plant, which will sell electricity in California's competitive energy market under short, mid and long term contracts. (A merchant plant is built with private funding, without creating any direct financial liability for electricity consumers.) The Applicant plans to begin construction in the third quarter of 2002, with operations beginning in the third quarter of 2004.

Purpose of the Informational Hearing

The power plant certification process, which contains requirements equivalent to those under the California Environmental Quality Act, will examine all relevant engineering and environmental aspects of the proposed project. The review process provides a public forum allowing the Applicant, Commission staff, interested parties, governmental agencies, adjacent landowners, and members of the general public to consider the advantages and disadvantages of the project, and to discuss changes or alternatives as necessary.

The informational hearing is the first in a series of Energy Commission events where interested members of the public and governmental agencies will have an opportunity to obtain information and to offer comments on the proposal. The Applicant will explain plans for developing the proposed site and related facilities. Energy Commission staff will explain the administrative licensing process and Staff's role in reviewing the Application. Applicant and Staff will also discuss the schedule and possible issues that may be significant during this proceeding.

Proposed Schedules and Issue Identification Report

To assist participants in understanding the project, Applicant and Staff shall file proposed schedules for the project review and Staff shall file an Issue Identification Report ("report") summarizing the potential major issues. The proposed schedules and Staff's report shall be filed no later than Friday, February 1, 2002. Copies of these documents will be available on the Commission's Internet Web page at: http://www.energy.ca.gov/sitingcases/cvec/index.html

Public Adviser and Public Participation

The Energy Commission's Public Adviser is available to assist the public in participating in the certification review process. Members of the public may participate in all aspects of the review process in a variety of ways. If you need information concerning public participation, please contact the Commission's Public Adviser, Roberta Mendonca at (916) 654-4489 or (800) 822-6228 or e-mail: pao@energy.state.ca.us

Information

Technical questions concerning the project should be addressed to the Commission's Project Manager, Mathew Trask, at (916) 654-4067 or e-mail at: mtrask@energy.state.ca.us

Questions of a legal or procedural nature should be directed to Cheryl Tompkin, the Hearing Officer, at (916) 654-3893 or e-mail at: ctompkin@energy.state.ca.us

If you require special accommodation to participate in this event, please contact Priscilla Ross at (916) 653-6631 or e-mail at: pross@energy.state.ca.us

Media inquiries should be directed to Claudia Chandler, Assistant Executive Director for Media and Public Communications at (916) 654-4989 or e-mail at: energia@energy.ca.gov

Information concerning the status of the project, as well as notices and other relevant documents, is also available on the Energy Commission's Internet home page at: http://www.energy.ca.gov/sitingcases/cvec/index.html

Dated: January 23, 2002, at Sacramento, California.

 

ENERGY RESOURCES CONSERVATION
AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION

 

ARTHUR H ROSENFELD
Commissioner and Presiding Member
Central Valley Energy Center Committee

ROBERT A. LAURIE
Commissioner and Associate Member
Central Valley Energy Center Committee

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2002
Site Visit begins at 3:30 p.m.
Public Information Hearing begins at 5:00 p.m.
San Joaquin Community Center
22058 Railroad Avenue
San Joaquin, California [Wheelchair Accessible]

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