Docket Number
97-AFC-01
Capacity
830 MW
Location
San Bernardino County
Technology
Combined Cycle
Project Status
Operational (Natural Gas-Fired)
Project Type
Application for Certification
Project Description

The High Desert Power Project (HDPP) is located in the city of Victorville, in San Bernardino County.

The HDPP is an 830 MW gas fired, combined cycle facility, utilizing 3 Siemens 501FD2 gas turbines, 3 Alstom Heat Recovery Steam Generators (HRSG), 1 Toshiba steam turbine.

Since April 2003, the project’s primary water supply has been State Water Project (SWP) surface water purchased from the City through a contract with the Mojave Water Agency) MWA). On average, the project uses 2,700 acre-feet per year of project related water. The bulk of its industrial water is used in evaporative wet cooling towers. The project includes a zero liquid discharge system to treat and recover water from waste disposal streams.

In April 2018, the CEC approved a Post-Certification Amendment (TN 223316) to drought-proof the HDPP. HDPP will be allowed to use alternative water supplies in addition to SWP water and recycled water from the Victor Valley Water Reclamation Authority. The proposed revisions were necessary to avoid possible operational disruptions due to drought-related water reliability impacts or recycled water interruptions. New Soil and Water Resources conditions of certification create new standards for the sources and uses of water for HDPP cooling needs; make permanent the HDPP’s use of percolation for banking SWP water; and impose certain offset remedies for failing to meet or exceeding the use of recycled water.

  • Order Approving a Petition to Transfer Ownership, TN 18316, 01/31/2001, Order No. 01-0124-01b, Commission approval to transfer of ownership of the project to the High Desert Power Trust, Ltd. 
  • Approval of Request to Change Ownership, TN 20263, 05/16/2001, Staff approval to change ownership of project T-line from High Desert Power Project, LLC, to Southern California Edison. 
  • Approval of Request to Modify Condition of Certification AQ-33, TN 20388, 05/17/2001, Staff approval of request to change Condition or Certificate AQ-33 to require surrender of ERCs prior to commercial operation. 
  • Approval of Request to Modify Condition AQ-3, TN 20389, 05/17/2001, Staff approval to approval to change Condition AQ-3 to substitute low sulfur fuel requirement for soot filter. 
  • Approval of Request to Modify Condition of Certification VIS-1, TN 20390, 05/17/2001, Staff approval of request to change High Desert Power Project Condition of Certification VIS-1 to allow for changing the plant color from a light blue shade, to a light brown shade. 
  • Approval of Modification to the Requirement of Condition of Certification HAZ-5, TN 20740, 05/25/2001, Staff approval of request to modify the requirement of Condition of Certification HAZ-5 from a non-enclosed double-walled ammonia tank to a single-walled enclosed ammonia tank. 
  • Notice of Exemption for Addition of Condition of Certification to Ensure Coordinated Integration of New Generating Unit with California's Electricity Grid, TN 21954, 08/16/2001, Notice of Exemption for addition of condition of certification TSE-4 to ensure coordinated integration of new generating unit with California's electricity grid. 
  • Notice of Exemption for Changes to Site Arrangement and Equipment, TN 22282, 09/05/2001, Staff approval of requests for site arrangement and equipment changes. 
  • Approval of Additional 7 Acres on Project Site, TN 24881, 12/21/2001, Staff approval to add an additional 7 acres on project site. 
  • Order Approving a Petition to Modify Air Quality Conditions Regarding Startup and Other Requirements, TN 32607, 10/26/2004, Order No. 04-1020-01b, Commission approval to modify air quality conditions regarding startup and other requirements. 
  • Order Approving a Petition to Extend the Period to Inject Surface Water into the Groundwater for a Backup Water Supply, TN 37467, 07/21/2006, Order No. 06-0719-02, Commission approval to modify condition SOIL & WATER-4 of the Energy Commission Decision to extend the original 5-year requirement to inject a net 13,000-acre feet of surface water into the underground aquifer as a backup supply for project operations. 
  • Order Approving a Petition to Modify Air Quality Conditions, TN 47338, 07/31/2008, Order No. 08-0730-02, Commission approval to modify AQ Conditions relating to Source Test Intervals and other administrative changes. 
  • Order Approving a Petition to Modify Soil and Water Conditions, TN 54277, 11/30/2009, Order No. 09-1118-05, Commission approval to modify the SOIL and WATER Conditions of Certification to remove the prohibition of the use of recycled water for project cooling and to build a short water pipeline to begin using recycled water for about 1/3 of their current cooling needs. 
  • Order Approving Modification of Soil and Water Condition to Extend Due Date of Recycled Water Feasibility Study, TN 62746, 11/03/2011, Order No. 11-1102-04, Commission approval to modify condition of certification SOIL & WATER-1 to extend the date of the recycled water feasibility study from December 31 , 2011 to November 1, 2013. 
  • Order Approving Changes to Condition of Certification SOIL&WATER-1, TN 203108, 09/26/2014, Order No. 14-0910-02, Commission approval to allow project to use alternative water supplies other than State Water Project Water or recycled water from the Victor Valley Water Reclamation Authority. 
  • Order Approving Installation of Ultraviolet Treatment System, TN 203216, 10/20/2014, Order No. 14-1007-05, Commission approval to modify the project to allow HDPP to install an ultraviolet treatment system within the existing water treatment facilities, and an enhancement to the existing cold lime softening system. 
  • Final Commission Decision Granting Petition to Drought-Proof the Facility, TN 223316, 05/03/2018, Order No. 18-0411-02, Commission approval to drought-proof the facility.
  • Statement of Staff Approval. TN 248840, 2/17/2023, Staff approval to install a concrete storage pad.
  • Statement of Staff Approval.  TN 249395, 3/22/2023, Staff approval to modify Air Quality conditions to increase turbine firing temperature.

Attention: Non-hypertext items above will need to be requested from the Compliance Project Manager, along with the document TN number, if provided above. 

Power Plant Certification and Exemption Processes

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 Application for Certification (AFC) process is a certified regulatory program under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). As a certified regulatory program, the CEC does not prepare environmental impact reports (EIRs) in an AFC proceeding, but instead prepares environmental assessment documents that are functionally equivalent to EIRs. A certificate issued by the CEC is in lieu of any permit, certificate, or similar document otherwise required by any state, local or regional agency, or federal agency to the extent permitted by federal law, and supersedes any applicable statute, ordinance, or regulation of any state, local, or regional agency, or federal agency to the extent permitted by federal law.

Original Proceeding

e-Commenting has been closed. Please submit your comments in compliance proceeding above.

Docket Log (97-AFC-01)

Exhibit List

Proof of Service List

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Contacts

Project Manager

Joseph Douglas
CME@energy.ca.gov
(Please enter project name in the email subject line)
916-956-9527

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Public Advisor
publicadvisor@energy.ca.gov
916-957-7910

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916-654-4989

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