Northern California Power Plant Technical Assistance and Consultations

Power plants which utilize once-through cooling impact Essential Fish Habitat through entrainment and impingement impacts.  The SWR HCD has participated in several forums to eliminate or minimize these impacts to NOAA Trust Resources.

Joe Dillon has been a prominent contact regarding power plant matters beginning with the Essential Fish Habitat consultation on the proposed expansion of the Potrero Power Plant in San Francisco, California in FY2003.  That consultation recommended that the proposal be altered to eliminate once-through cooling because of its entrainment and impingement impacts and that an alternative cooling method be utilized.  The project proponent agreed to reassess the project, but efforts ceased due to changing market conditions.  These efforts by the SWR HCD and the Bay Conservation and Development Commission lead the State of California to reexamine their goals in relicensing older, coastal power plants.  Joe testified on the issue of once-through cooling and EFH before the California Energy Commission (CEC), the California Ocean Protection Council, the State Lands Commission (SLC) and at a State Water Resources Control Board (SWRCB) policy scoping meeting.  These efforts contributed to the development of policies by the SLC and the California Coastal Commission regarding the issue that are beneficial to EFH.  An important State-wide permitting policy from the SWRCB is due to be released in January 2008 and is expected to curtail the use of the outdated technology and/or require significant mitigation for continued use.  Joe continues to review permitting renewals for existing plants, pertinent notices issued by the CEC regarding repowerings and new plants (the vast majority proposed with alternative cooling technologies) and to work on power plant consultations in his focus area.

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03/11/08