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Key Dates

• 3/19/2008 - Small Power Plant Exemption (SPPE) filed
• 5/30/2008 - Commission accepts SPPE as "data adequate."
• 11/12/2008 - Commission staff releases Preliminary Staff Assessment.
• 12/22/2008 - Commission staff releases Final Staff Assessment.
• 1/28/2009 - Committee releases Small Power Plant Exemption Decision.
• 2/25/2009 - Commission approves Small Power Plant Exemption.
• 11/2011 - Power plant on line and producing power.

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General Description of Project

The city of Riverside filed a Small Power Plant Exemption (SPPE) application for its Riverside Energy Resource Center Units 3 & 4 project on March 19, 2008. This proposed gas-fired peaking project has a capacity of approximately 95 megawatts (MW). It is an expansion of the original Riverside Energy Center, an existing 96 MW peaking facility (Docket # 04-SPPE-1) granted a small power plant exemption by the Commission in 2004, which began operating in June 2006. The project will use recycled water for cooling which will be supplied from the city's adjacent wastewater treatment plant.

Small Power Plant Exemption Evaluation Process

The SPPE process allows projects between 50 and 100 MW to proceed with local approval rather than requiring an Energy Commission license. This exemption from the Energy Commission licensing process can be applied to projects that would not create a substantial adverse impact on the environment or energy resources. The Energy Commission acts as the lead agency under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and will prepare an Initial Study and Mitigated Negative Declaration that examines public health and safety, along with environmental impacts of the proposed project, including all related facilities such as electric transmission lines, natural gas and water pipelines. If the exemption is granted, the applicant would still need to secure the appropriate licenses and permits from relevant local, state, and federal agencies.

For Questions about this Exemption Proceeding Contact:

Mary Dyas
Compliance Project Manager
Siting, Transmission and Environmental Protection (STEP) Division
California Energy Commission
1516 Ninth Street, MS-2000
Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-628-5418
E-mail: Mary.Dyas@energy.ca.gov

For Questions About Public Participation In Exemption Proceedings Contact:

Public Advisor
California Energy Commission
1516 Ninth Street, MS-12 Sacramento, CA 95814
Phone: 916-654-4489
Toll-Free in California: 1-800-822-6228
E-mail: PublicAdvisor@energy.ca.gov

News Media Please Contact:

Media & Public Communications Office
Phone: 916-654-4989
E-mail: mediaoffice@energy.ca.gov