California Energy Commission - 3 Nov 09

Prof. Robert B. Laughlin
Department of Physics
Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305

http://www.energy.ca.gov/sitingcases/abengoa
(Copied 9 Dec 09)


Abengoa Mojave Solar Project Power Plant Licensing Case

Docket Number: 08-AFC-5
(Application For Certification)
Committee Overseeing This Case:
Julia Levin, Commissioner
Presiding Member
James D. Boyd, Chairman
Associate Member
Hearing Officer: Paul Kramer

Key Dates


GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT

On August 10, 2009, Abengoa Solar Inc., the sole member of Mojave Solar LLC, filed an Application For Certification (AFC) for its Abengoa Mojave Solar Project. The proposed project is a nominal 250 megawatt (MW) solar electric generating facility to be located near Harper Dry Lake in an unincorporated area of San Bernardino County. The project would be located approximately halfway between Barstow, CA and Kramer Junction, CA, and is approximately nine miles northwest of Hinkley, CA.

The project will implement well-established parabolic trough technology to solar heat a heat transfer fluid (HTF). This hot HTF will generate steam in solar steam generators, which will expand through a steam turbine generator to produce electrical power from twin, independently-operable solar fields, each feeding a 125-MW power island. The sun will provide 100 percent of the power supplied to the project through solar-thermal collectors; no supplementary fossil-based energy source (like natural gas) is proposed for electrical power production.


Energy Commission Facility Certification Process

The California Energy Commission is the lead agency (for licensing thermal power plants 50 megawatts and larger) under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and has a certified regulatory program under CEQA. Under its certified program, the Energy Commission is exempt from having to prepare an environmental impact report. Its certified program, however, does require environmental analysis of the project, including an analysis of alternatives and mitigation measures to minimize any significant adverse effect the project may have on the environment.



For Questions About This Siting Case Contact:

Craig Hoffman
Project Manager
Siting, Transmission and Environmental Protection Division
California Energy Commission
1516 Ninth Street, MS-15
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-654-4781
E-mail: CHoffman@energy.state.ca.us

For Questions About Participation In Siting Cases Contact:

Public Adviser
California Energy Commission
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E-mail: PublicAdviser@energy.state.ca.us

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Last Modified: 3 Nov 09