The Huntington Beach Energy Project, a proposed 939 MW power plant that would replace an existing plant on the same site, was unanimously granted a certificate to build and operate by the California Energy Commission Oct. 29. “With mitigation, the Huntington Beach Energy Project will not result in any significant immitigable environmental impacts,” said Energy Commission hearing officer Susan Cochran. “The project complies with all laws, ordinances, regulations, and standards.” The decision also stated that commission staff found that following conditions in the certification will ensure “protection of environmental quality and assure reasonably safe and reliable operation of the facility” and that the project won’t “result in, nor contribute substantially to any significant direct, indirect, or cumulative environmental impacts.” The $525 million-plus project, developed by AES Southland Development, is designed as a natural-gas-fired, combined-cycle and air-cooled electrical power plant facility. It’s expected to use the 28.6-acre footprint of the older AES Huntington plant it’s to replace. The existing facility, which uses once-through cooling technology, would eventually be demolished. There are four operating units currently on site, two of which were retooled as synchronous condensers in December 2012 to provide voltage support to Orange and San Diego counties after the closure of the 2,200 MW San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. That swap out was pursuant to a must-run contract with the grid operator. After two new units are built, the ones providing voltage support are to be mothballed. The newly-approved project consists of two power blocks, each composed of three natural gas combustion turbine generators with supplemental fired heat recovery steam generators, a steam turbine generator, and an air-cooled condenser. Each power block could generate 110 MW to 470 MW. Demolition and construction work is scheduled to take place between the first quarter of 2015 and the third quarter of 2022. Also, the commission approved a $4 million contract with Westlake Village-based consulting services company Digital Energy to assist and support the commission’s Bright Schools and Energy Partnership programs. Those programs promote implementation of energy efficiency and renewable generation measures at existing facilities by providing technical assistance services to public agencies. Under the contract, which commenced Oct. 31 and ends Jan. 31, 2018, Digital Energy is to provide technical assistance and support to local educational agencies eligible for California Clean Energy Jobs Act funding, as well as to public agencies at large.
