- Docket Number
- 99-AFC-03
- Capacity
- 600 MW
- Location
- Santa Clara County
- Technology
- Combined Cycle
- Project Status
- Operational (Natural Gas-Fired)
- Project Type
- Application for Certification
The Metcalf Energy Center (MEC), is located in southern San Jose approximately one-half mile west of the PG&E Metcalf substation. The project site is at the southern base of Tulare Hill in northern Coyote Valley of South San Jose to the west of Monterey Highway just south of the Metcalf Road intersection. The site is bordered by Fisher Creek to the north and west and the Union Pacific Railroad right-of-way to the east. Blanchard Road is to the south.
MEC is a nominal 600-megawatt combined-cycle, natural gas-fired power plant with a 230 kilovolt (kV) switchyard and approximately 200 feet of new 230 kV transmission line. Natural gas for the facility is delivered via an approximately one mile 16-inch pipeline connecting to an existing Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) transmission backbone pipeline that runs along the eastern side of U.S. Route 101. Recycled water for cooling is supplied by the South Bay Water Recycling Program (SBWR) and is delivered from a tap into SBWR’s existing main pipeline in eastern San Jose via a 20-inch, 7.3-mile pipeline.
On November 24, 2020, California Energy Commission staff approved the installation of additional temperature sensors, instrumentation, controls, and piping, and replacement of existing hot gas path components including turbine blades, nozzles, and associated structural elements. The equipment upgrades will reduce the turbine heat rate, generating more power from the same amount of fuel, thereby resulting in an increased output by 30 MW. The upgrades were completed in May 2021.
- Approval of Request to Add 14 Acres to the Site, TN 23685, 12/21/2001, Staff approval to add 14 acres to the project site for increased construction laydown area to expedite the project construction schedule. This acreage is-located immediately south of Blanchard Road.
- Order Approving 1000-Foot Recycled Water Pipeline Interconnection, TN 26608, 09/05/2002, Order No. 02-0828-04, Commission approval to modify the project design in order to have the ability to replace the originally-approved 10.2-mile recycled water pipeline with a 1000-feet lateral interconnection line.
- Order Approving a Petition to Transfer Ownership to Calpine Corporation, Not in Docket, 08/06/2003, Order No. 03-0806-01f, Commission approval of ownership transfer from Metcalf Energy Center, LLC to Calpine Corporation.
- Order Approving of Temporary Parking/Storage Area, TN 30726, 01/13/2004, Order No. 03-1217-02, Commission approval to add a temporary parking/storage area for additional employee parking, soil storage, and other temporary storage purposes during project construction.
- Order Approving Transfer of Ownership to Metcalf Energy Center, LLC, TN 32330, 9/13/2004, Order No. 04-0908-010b, Commission approval of transfer of ownership from Calpine Corporation to Metcalf Energy Center, LLC.
- Order Approving a Petition to Modify Air Quality Conditions, TN 33793, 03/30/2005, Order No. 05-0316-03, Commission approval to increase in hourly CO emission limits while reducing the max number of firing hours during commissioning and other changes.
- Approval to Change Verification Requirements in LAND-6 and VIS-9, Not in Docket, 05/31/2005, Staff approval of verification change to required dates contained in conditions of certification LAND-6 and VIS-9 be extended consistent with the procedure provided in the Commission Decision.
- Authorization for a Software Modification to Allow an Increased Firing Temperature When Warranted, Not in Docket, 11-30-2020, Staff approval of a software change to allow an increased firing temperature when additional megawatts are needed or requested by the California Independent System Operator.
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
Anwar Ali
CME@energy.ca.gov
(Please enter project name in the email subject line)
916-698-7498
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