The California Energy Commission (CEC) approved the construction of TID’s proposed Almond 2 Power Plant (A2PP) with a 5-0 vote on Wednesday.
The state-of-the-art, natural-gas fired, simple-cycle peaking power generation facility, will be located next to the existing Almond Power Plant in Ceres, California. The plant will utilize the first 3 commercial units of the new General Electric LM6000PG series gas turbines.
“A2PP will add 174 megawatts to TID’s current generating capability. This project is important to TID and our community and represents about 150 jobs at peak as well as other short and long term economic benefits to the area,” stated Brian LaFollette, interim assistant general manager of Power Supply.
The district hopes to use the new power plant, sited adjacent to the existing 48-megawatt Almond 1 Power Plant on Crows Landing Road near Ceres, to reduce emissions, provide protection against power outages, and to assist with meeting balancing authority operations. As one of five state-approved balancing authorities, the district must guarantee sufficient reserve generation capacity to meet grid demands, currently forcing TID to run existing generators below maximum potentials.The Almond 2 Power Plant will use natural gas technology to generate electricity in a manner that will minimize the use of fuel, emissions of criteria pollutants, and potential effects on ambient air quality. The power plant will also use recycled water from the City of Ceres’ Wastewater Treatment Plant for the project’s process water needs.
The application for construction was submitted to the CEC in May 2009. On site work will begin in early 2011 with commercial operation expected within 12 months of the start date.
