Power plant proposal needs emission work

Palmdale Hybrid Gas-Solar Power Plant faces CEC staff review requiring ozone emission reduction credits; a 377-acre combined-cycle and solar thermal hybrid boosting local energy supply, jobs, air quality, and grid reliability.

The City of Palmdale's proposal for a 570-megawatt natural gas/solar power plant in Los Angeles County does not meet California state air quality regulations but could be updated to meet the requirements, state regulators said.

In a statement, the California Energy Commission said its staff determined the city should first identify sufficient ozone emission reduction credits before allowing the estimated $950 million Palmdale power plant to go forward.

The staff assessment is not a final decision on the project. The assessment will serve as the staff's testimony at a hearing to be held by two commissioners who will then recommend a proposed decision to the full commission in a process similar to reviews of plants that would run at times of peak demand in other cities, which will make the final decision.

Palmdale filed to build the project, eyed for an old Air Force plant site, with the Commission in 2008. If approved, the Commission said the plant could enter service in 2013.

The project, to be located on a 377-acre industrial site, will integrate a gas-fired combined-cycle power plant with a solar thermal plant. To reduce natural gas use and carbon dioxide and other emissions, the solar part of the plant will contribute up to 50 MW of generation when the sun is shining, helping meet peak demand on hot afternoons.

Palmdale Mayor James Ledford said in local reports the city proposed the project to increase local energy supplies, create jobs and attract businesses to the area by reducing the city's dependence on more expensive outside sources of electricity, though some farmers have protested over potential agricultural impacts.

Edison International's Southern California Edison supplies the city with power.

Almost 500,000 people live in the Palmdale metro area with about 150,000 within the city borders. Palmdale is located about 60 miles north of Los Angeles.

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