Coso Navy 2 / China Lake Joint Venture

Coso Navy 2 is an 80-megawatt geothermal power plant located within the China Lake Naval Weapons Center, in Inyo County. The project was granted a Small Power Plant Exemption by the CEC on December 14, 1988 and began commercial operation on December 1, 1989.

Project Owner: China Lake Joint Venture
Docket Number: 88-SPPE-01
Capacity: 80 MW
Location: Inyo County
Technology: Steam Turbine
Project Status: Exempted
Project Type: Small Power Plant Exemption

Small Power Plant Exemption

The CEC Small Power Plant Exemption (SPPE) process allows applicants proposing thermal power plants between 50 and 100 MW to obtain an exemption from the CEC’s jurisdiction and proceed with local permitting rather than requiring CEC certification. The CEC can grant an exemption if it finds that the proposed facility will not create a substantial adverse impact on the environment or energy resources. These facilities were exempted from the CEC’s jurisdiction.