- Project Owner
- AVAIO Digital Partners I, LLC (AVAIO)
- Docket Number
- 24-SPPE-01
- Capacity
- 92 MW
- Location
- Pittsburg, California
- Technology
- Backup Generating System
- Project Status
- Under Review
- Project Type
- Small Power Plant Exemption
Pittsburg Data Hub, LLC a wholly owned subsidiary of AVAIO Digital Partners I, LLC (AVAIO), proposes to develop the Pittsburg Backup Generating Facility (PBGF). The PBGF would consist of a total of thirty-seven (37) 3-megawatt (MW) diesel fired generators that would be used exclusively to provide up to 92 MW of backup emergency generation to support the AVAIO Pittsburg Data Hub (PDH). The components of the PDH would include a three-story approximately 347,740 square foot data center building; a project substation; a Pacific Gas and Electric Company switching station and transmission lines; the PBGF; site access and surface parking; landscaping; stormwater controls and features; and water and sewer pipeline interconnections.
The proposed PDH site encompasses approximately 22.31 acres (APNs 095-160-001, 095-160-002, and 095-150-032) and would be located at 2232 Golf Club Road, Pittsburg, California. Thirty-six (36) of the generators would be dedicated to replacing the electricity needs of the data center and one (1) of the generators would be used to support general office loads along with building and life safety services (house generator) in the case of a loss of utility power. The PBGF is designed to operate only when electricity from Pittsburg Power Company is unavailable to the PDH. The PBGF would not be electrically interconnected to the electrical transmission grid. Rather, it would consist of one generation yard electrically interconnected solely to the PDH.
Small Power Plant Exemption
The CEC has the exclusive authority to certify all thermal power plants 50 megawatts (MW) and larger and related facilities proposed for construction in California. The Small Power Plant Exemption (SPPE) process allows applicants with facilities between 50 and 100 MW to obtain an exemption from CEC’s jurisdiction and proceed with local permitting rather than requiring CEC certification. CEC can grant an exemption if it finds that the proposed facility would not create a substantial adverse impact on the environment or energy resources. Public Resources Code section 25519(c) designates CEC as the “lead agency”, in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), for all facilities seeking an SPPE. In granting an SPPE, the CEC is not the final approval necessary for construction and operation of a project. Instead, if the CEC grants an SPPE, the responsible local land use authorities and other agencies, such as the local air management district, will assume jurisdiction over the project under their respective permitting processes, and conduct any other necessary environmental review as “responsible agencies” under CEQA.
Contacts
Project Manager
Renee Longman
STEPsiting@energy.ca.gov
(Please enter project name in the email subject line)
(916) 937-3538
Public Participation Questions
Public Advisor
publicadvisor@energy.ca.gov
916-957-7910
Media Inquiries
Media & Public Communications Office
mediaoffice@energy.ca.gov
916-654-4989