Turlock Irrigation District, the owner/operators of the Walnut Energy Center Project, has submitted a petition to amend the Energy Commission Decision for its Walnut Energy Center Project (Docket No. 02-AFC-4C) located in the City of Turlock in Stanislaus County. The petition requests that the Energy Commission approve a transfer of ownership of the project to Walnut Energy Center Authority. Turlock Irrigation District formed with Merced Irrigation District a new public agency under the Joint Powers Act (Government Code Section 6500 et. seq.) known as the Walnut Energy Center Authority. Despite the change of ownership, there will be no changes in operational control of the project. A representative of the new project owner has provided a declaration, under penalty of perjury, that Walnut Energy Center Authority agrees to comply with the conditions of certification in the Energy Commission's Decision for the Walnut Energy Center Project.

STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff has reviewed the petition and finds that it complies with the requirements of Title 20 of the California Code of Regulations, Section 1769(b), and recommends approval of the ownership change.

CONCLUSION AND ORDER
The California Energy Commission hereby adopts the staff's recommendation and approves the transfer of ownership from Turlock Irrigation District to Walnut Energy Center Authority.

IT IS SO ORDERED

Date On-Line: September 16, 2004

STATE OF CALIFORNIA ENERGY RESOURCES CONSERVATION AND DEVELOPMENT COMMISSION ______/Original Signed/_______ WILLIAM J. KEESE, Chairman