- Docket Number
- 12-AFC-02
- Capacity
- 640 MW
- Location
- Huntington Beach
- Technology
- Combined Cycle
- Project Status
- Operational (Natural Gas-Fired)
- Project Type
- Application for Certification
The Huntington Beach Energy Project (HBEP) is located at 21730 Newland Street, Huntington Beach. The site is in the city of Huntington Beach just north of the intersection of the Pacific Coast Highway and Newland Street. The project is located entirely within the footprint of the existing Huntington Beach Generating Station, an operating power plant.
The HBEP is a nominal 844-megawatt (MW), natural gas-fired, combined-cycled, and simple cycle gas turbine electric generating facility. The 644 MW combined cycle gas turbine generator began operation on June 25, 2020.
The originally permitted HBEP was a natural-gas fired, combined-cycle, air-cooled, 939 MW electrical generating facility to replace the AES Huntington Beach Generating Station. As licensed, HBEP would have consisted of two independently operating, three-on-one, combined-cycle gas turbine power blocks.
On April 1, 2017, the California Energy Commission (CEC) approved a Post-Certification Petition to Amend (PTA) to included one combined-cycle, 2-on-1 power block that would generate 640-MW, and two simple-cycle turbines that would produce 200 MW.
On April 14, 2021, the CEC approved a PTA to modify the project to replace the proposed project screening (wave wall) with a mural-based architectural treatment.
- Order Approving Increased Turbine Operating Hours. TN 251224, 7/27/23. Staff approval to increase turbine operating hours from 6,640 to 7,640.
- Staff Approval of Proposed Change - Front Entrance Modifications. TN 247079, 10/28/22. Staff approval to remodel the site entrance and install a new security shack.
- Staff Approval of Proposed Change – Auxiliary Boiler Commissioning Parameters, TN 229082, 07/25/2019, Staff approval to change the commissioning parameters of the auxiliary boiler.
- Order Approving A Petition to Modify Visual Screening System, TN 237482, 04/16/2021, Order No. 21-0414-04, Commission approval to replace the approved architectural screening structure (“spherical ball wall”) with a mural-based design treatment for screening and enhancing views of the project site.
- Order Approving A Petition to Amend Air Quality Conditions, TN 239354, 08/18/2021, Order No. 21-0811-1b, Commission approval to increase non-cold start-up NOx limit for two GE 7FA combined cycle gas turbines from 17 pounds per event to 32 pounds per event and other changes in conformance with the SCAQMD revised Title V Facility Permit.
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.
Contacts
Project Manager
Joseph Douglas
CME@energy.ca.gov
(Please enter project name in the email subject line)
916-956-9527
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