- Project Owner
- LBA RVI-Company I, LP
- Docket Number
- 25-SPPE-02
- Capacity
- 97.3 MW
- Location
- San José, California
- Technology
- Backup Generating System
- Project Status
- Under Review
- Project Type
- Small Power Plant Exemption
The NorthTown Backup Generating Facility (NTBGF) would consist of a total of forty two (42) diesel- fired generators that would be used exclusively to provide up to 97.3 megawatts (MW) of backup emergency generation to support NorthTown Data Center (NTDC) to provide uninterrupted power for its tenant’s servers.
The proposed project site is at the southwest corner of the intersection of West Trimble Road and Orchard Parkway in San José, California. The data center buildings, emergency backup generating facilities, project substation, water storage and treatment area, the PG&E Switching Station, site circulation, and parking would be located on APNs 101-02-018 and 101-02-021. The entire project site is approximately 28.5 acres.
The NTBGF would only provide interconnection to the NTDC and would not be interconnected to the transmission or distribution grid. The project would construct a new 115-34.5 kilovolt (kV), 110 mega volt-ampere (MVA) electrical substation (project substation) adjacent to the proposed expansion of the recently permitted PG&E utility. The two-bay project substation (two 105 MVA 115kV - 34.5 kV step-down transformers and primary distribution switchgear) would be designed to allow one of the two transformers to be taken out of service, effectively providing 105 MVA of total power (a 2-to-make-1 design).
Of the 42 total generators, two of the generators would each have a generating capacity of up to 1.75 MW and the remaining 40 generators would each have a generating capacity of 3 MW. Of those 40 generators rated 3 MW, eight would be redundant. The generators would be arranged in two generation yards located adjacent to each data center building (DC North and DC West). All 40 of the 3-MW generators would be dedicated to replacing the electricity needs of the data center in case of a loss of utility power, while the two 1.75-MW generators would be used to support general office loads along with building and life safety services (i.e., house generators) during emergencies.
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
Ali Jahani
STEPsiting@energy.ca.gov
(Please enter project name in the email subject line)
279-226-1175
Public Participation Questions
Public Advisor
publicadvisor@energy.ca.gov
916-269-9595
Media Inquiries
Media & Public Communications Office
mediaoffice@energy.ca.gov
916-654-4989