Docket Number
79-AFC-01
Capacity
110 MW
Location
Sonoma County
Technology
Steam Turbine
Project Status
Operational (Geothermal)
Project Type
Application for Certification
Project Description

The Lake View Geothermal Project (Unit 17) is in Sonoma County near the Sonoma County line, in the Geysers Known Geothermal Resource Area along the ridgeline of the Mayacamas Mountains with moderately steep terrain, approximately 15 miles west of the town of Cobb. Unit 17, originally known as Pacific Gas & Electric Company’s (PG&E) Geysers Unit 17 Geothermal Project was certified by the Energy Commission (CEC) in September 1979 and began commercial operation in March 1982.

Unit 17 is a dry-steam geothermal plant that was designed to provide up to 110 MW; however, due to reduced steam pressures, the plant currently supplies about 52 megawatts of base-load electricity to northern California's power grid. Major structures include the turbine building, cooling towers, hydrogen sulfide abatement, and the service building.

In April 1999, the CEC granted a transfer of ownership of Lake View Geothermal (Unit 17), the former PG&E Geysers Unit 17 Geothermal Project to Geysers Power Company, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Calpine Corporation.

Compliance Plan Revision Approval to Modify Condition of Certification 55, Not in Docket, Order No. 83-0325, Commission approved Compliance Plan Revision - modification of condition of certification 55 which required a continuous emission monitoring device for H2S. 

Approval of Requested Changes to Verifications for Air Quality Condition of Certification 2-1, Not in Docket, 03/23/1995, Staff approval of verification changes for Conditions of Certification Air Quality 2-1 subparts 26a and 53. 

Commission Order Approving Ownership Transfer, TN 11757, 04/22/1999, Order No. 99-0414-01b, Commission approval of Ownership Transfer from PG&E to Geysers Power Company. 

Approval of Petition to Use Reclaimed Wastewater and Approval of Verification Changes, TN 31108, 03/12/2004, Staff approval of the use of reclaimed municipal wastewater at the six Calpine Geysers geothermal power plants as well as revision of the reporting requirements in the condition of certification verifications. 

Notice Of Determination for Approval to Install a Steam Turbine Bypass, TN 214573, 11/29/2016, Staff approval to install a steam turbine bypass at Lakeview project in order to make the facility more flexible and responsive to the needs of the California Independent System Operator. 

Resolution Approving (DCBO) Services for Fire System Recommissioning Activities at the Geysers Facilities, TN 230278, 10/18/2019, Resolution No. 19-1014-04, Approval of Agreement 700-19-003 with NV5, Inc. for a $0 contract to provide delegate chief building official (DCBO) services for fire system recommissioning activities at the Geysers facilities.  

Order Approving Petition for Modification for Permanent Standby Diesel Engine-Powered Pump, TN 231785, 01/29/2020, Order No. 20-0122-04, Commission approval to install a permanent standby diesel engine-powered pump for the cooling tower wet-down system and to revise the facility’s air quality conditions of certification for consistency with the Northern Sonoma County Air Pollution Control District’s (NSCAPCD) Authority to Construct (ATC) Permit, issued on June 27, 2019. 

Order Approving Settlement for Fire Protection System, TN 235701, 11/19/2020, Order No. 20-1116-02, Commission approval of the Settlement Agreement and changes to the conditions of certification and direct the Executive Director to execute the Settlement Agreement on behalf of the CEC. 

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 (79-AFC-01)

Exhibit List

Proof of Service List

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Contacts

Project Manager

John Heiser
CME@energy.ca.gov
(Please enter project name in the email subject line)
(916) 628-5566

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

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