- Project Owner
- Morton Bay Geothermal, LLC, a subsidiary of BHE Renewables, LLC (BHER)
- Docket Number
- 23-AFC-01
- Capacity
- 140 MW (Net)
- Location
- Imperial County
- Technology
- Steam Turbine
- Project Status
- Under Review
- Project Type
- Application for Certification
The Morton Bay Geothermal Project (MBGP) is proposed to be developed by Morton Bay Geothermal, LLC, an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of BHE Renewables, LLC (BHER). The project is on 63 acres of a 160-acre parcel in unincorporated Imperial County, bounded by McDonald Road to the north, Davis Road to the east, Schrimpf Road to the south, and the Salton Sea to the immediate west.
MBGP 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, three power distribution center, borrow pits, and injection wells.
Main components of MBGP include a steam turbine generator system, geothermal fluid processing system, two seven-cell cooling towers, 20 wells (including production and injection wells) and 12 well pads, and a 3.2-mile long aboveground interconnection to the Imperial Irrigation District switching station.
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
916-957-7910
Media Inquiries
Media & Public Communications Office
mediaoffice@energy.ca.gov
916-654-4989