Docket Number
81-AFC-03
Capacity
110 MW
Location
Sonoma County
Technology
Steam Turbine
Project Status
Operational (Geothermal)
Project Type
Application for Certification
Project Description

Northern California Power Agency (NCPA) Geothermal Plant No. 2 (NCPA-2) is located near the town of Anderson Springs, in Sonoma County, on federally owned lands in the Geysers Known Geothermal Resource Area (KGRA). The federal lands are administered by the Bureau of Land Management and the Minerals Management Service.

NCPA-2 is currently a 55-megawatt (MW) generating geothermal facility consisting of one 55 MW turbine generators; multiple cell, double flow, mechanically induced draft cooling towers; a transmission switchyard, adjacent to the turbine generator building, containing a 13.8 kilovolt to 230 kV step-up transformer; and, a hydrogen sulfide (H2S) abatement system. Primary treatment will be through a Stretford system, in which H2S is scrubbed from the vent gas stream and catalytically oxidized to elemental sulfur. NCPA will use a hydrogen peroxide secondary H2S abatement system to further reduce emissions to an acceptable level.

NCPA-2 was initially designed and operated as a 110-MW facility comprised of two steam turbines units (units 3 and 4). However, due to the current steam field degradation, there is only enough steam to operate a single 55 MW steam turbine. Unit 4 was modified to accept the reduced new steam conditions. In April 2010, Unit 3 was put into a non-operational state, which is not physically connected to the switchyard or grid. In 2014, NCPA-2 demolished and removed the cooling tower associated with unit 3. The current output for the facility is only 55 MW.

Currently, NCPA-2 is testing the existing fire protection system, including the deficient fire detection alarms, with a plan to make functional changes to the existing fire protection system.

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 (81-AFC-03)

Exhibit List

Proof of Service List

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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
916-957-7910

Media Inquiries

Media & Public Communications Office
mediaoffice@energy.ca.gov
916-654-4989

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