Power Plant Compliance and Siting

Operational Natural Gas-Fired Facilities

Operational Solar Thermal Facilities

Operational Photovoltaic Facilities

Operational Geothermal Facilities

Operational Pipeline Projects

Operational 2001 Emergency Peaker Projects

Emergency Peaker Projects were established when Governor Gray Davis declared a state of emergency on January 17, 2001. On February 8 and March 7, 2001, the Governor issued several executive orders, including Executive Orders D-26-01 and D-28-01, in which the Governor ordered the Energy Commission to expedite the processing of applications for peaking and renewable power plants that were to be on line by September 30, 2001. 

Exempt - Small Power Plant Exemptions

The CEC has the exclusive authority to certify all thermal power plants (50 megawatts [MW] and greater) and related facilities proposed for construction in California. The Small Power Plant Exemption (SPPE) process allows applicants with facilities between 50 and 100 MW to obtain an exemption from CEC’s jurisdiction and proceed with local permitting rather than requiring CEC certification. CEC can grant an exemption if it finds that the proposed facility would not create a substantial adverse impact on the environment or energy resources. Public Resources Code section 25519(c) designates CEC as the “lead agency”, in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), for all facilities seeking an SPPE. In granting an SPPE, the CEC is not the final approval necessary for construction and operation of a project. Instead, if the CEC grants an SPPE, the responsible local land use authorities and other agencies, such as the local air management district, will assume jurisdiction over the project under their respective permitting processes, and conduct any other necessary environmental review as “responsible agencies” under CEQA.

Projects Under Review

The Siting and Environmental Office is responsible for projects currently in the licensing and exemption process. For more information, please visit Power Plants Licensing.

Non-Operational Facilities

Facility Closures / Decommissioning

One of the roles of the Compliance Monitoring and Enforcement program is to ensure closure projects under its jurisdiction are ready for repurposing at the end of their operational life. 

Never Licensed, License Expired, Suspended Proceedings, Withdrawn, Denied, and Terminated

For more information on the projects, please contact the Compliance Monitoring Enforcement Office at CME@energy.ca.gov