It’s only the first step in a long and arduous process, but the Californian Energy Commission's has okayed the application for certification for the Genesis Solar Energy Project based on facility data.
The project, under the auspices of Tucson, Arizona-based, privately held Genesis Solar LLC, will consist of two independent solar electric generating facilities with a combined total output of 250 megawatts, sited on 1,800 acres of BLM- (Bureau of Land Management -) managed land.
Genesis Solar is a wholly owned subsidiary of Juno Beach, Florida-based NextEra Energy Resources LLC, itself a consortium of FPL Group, Inc. (including the FPL’s capital investment arm) and Florida Power & Light, who jointly provide energy services and project management.
The Genesis Project, once it has met California Energy Commission approval, must also seek federal approval before the construction process can begin. The original AFC (application for certification) was submitted on Aug. 31.
The concentrating solar thermal project comprises two groups of parabolic mirrors which concentrate solar energy and use it to create steam to power generators. The project will use wet cooling techniques, but only from non-potable water wells located on the project site 25 miles from Blythe adjacent to Interstate 10, and the residual water from the cooling tower will be fed into lined, on-site evaporation ponds.
This is reportedly an undeveloped area of the Sonoran Desert, with the McCoy Mountains to the East, the Palen Mountain/McCoy Wilderness area to the north, and Ford Dry Lake to the south, on the other side of I-10. The proposed site sits within 40 miles of Joshua Tree National Park, and has been used for grazing and off-road vehicle sports but has since been closed.
Reports say the Genesis Project will use 536 million gallons of water per year, and with southern California utility Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) committed to buying the entire output it seems like a profitable venture from both a solar electricity production and revenue model. The water issue may, however, impact final approvals.
Solar thermal trough developers use wet cooling because dry- (or air-) cooling reduces electricity output by up to five percent, and with budgets structured to wring every penny out of capital outlays, five percent is significant loss. Dry-cooling technology is also more expensive, adding to up-front costs that are not always recaptured via electricity sales.
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.