Project Owner
Elmore North Geothermal, LLC, a subsidiary of BHE Renewables, LLC (BHER)
Docket Number
23-AFC-02
Capacity
140 MW (Net)
Location
Imperial County
Technology
Steam Turbine
Project Status
Under Review
Project Type
Application for Certification
Project Description

The Elmore North Geothermal Project (ENGP) is proposed to be developed by Elmore North Geothermal, LLC, an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of BHE Renewables, LLC (BHER). The ENGP generating facility would be on 51 acres of a 140-acre parcel in unincorporated Imperial County, bounded by an unnamed dirt road to the north, Cox Road to the west, Garst Road to the east, and West Sinclair Road to the south. The town of Niland is approximately six miles northeast and the town of Calipatria is approximately six miles southeast from the project site. 

The ENGP would have a maximum continuous rating of approximately 157 megawatts (MW) gross, with an expected net output of roughly 140 MW. The project includes geothermal production wells, pipelines, fluid and steam handling facilities, a solids handling system, a Class II surface impoundment, a service water pond, a stormwater retention basin, process fluid injection pumps, a power distribution center, borrow pits, and injection wells. The main components of ENGP include a steam turbine generator system, geothermal fluid processing system, a single 14-cell cooling tower, 21 wells (including production and injection wells) and 13 well pads, and a 0.5-mile-long aboveground interconnection to an Imperial Irrigation District switching station to be constructed as part of the project. 

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.

Contacts

Project Manager

Eric Veerkamp
STEPsiting@energy.ca.gov
(Please enter project name in the email subject line)
916-661-8458

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

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