Project Owner
Martin Avenue Properties, LLC
Docket Number
22-SPPE-03
Capacity
96 MW
Location
Santa Clara, California
Technology
Backup Generating System
Project Status
Under Review
Project Type
Small Power Plant Exemption
Project Description

The Martin Backup Generating Facility will consist of a total of forty-four (44) 2.75-MW diesel fired generators that will be used exclusively to provide up to 96 megawatts of backup emergency generation to support the Martin Data Center (MDC), to be located at 651 Martin Avenue in Santa Clara, California.  Forty (40) of the generators would be dedicated to replace the electricity needs of the data center in case of a loss of utility power, and four (4) of the generators would be used to support redundant critical cooling equipment and other general building and life safety services (house generators). Project elements will also include switchgear and distribution cabling to interconnect the generators to their respective portion of the building.

  • 11/17/2022 - Application materials received to docket with payment.
  • 2/10/2023 - Data Request Set 1 filed to the docket.
  • 2/16/2023 - Notice of Preparation filed to California State Clearinghouse.

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

Eric Veerkamp
STEPsiting@energy.ca.gov
(Please enter project name in the email subject line)
916-661-8458

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

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