Metcalf Energy Center

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View of plants thermal condenser towers from Coyote Creek Trail, September 22, 2012 Metcalf Energy Center 1416 02.JPG
View of plants thermal condenser towers from Coyote Creek Trail, September 22, 2012
Aerial view of Metcalf Energy Center and Metcalf Substation (and RV storage lot) Metcalf Energy Center and Substation.jpg
Aerial view of Metcalf Energy Center and Metcalf Substation (and RV storage lot)

The Metcalf Energy Center is a 605 megawatt combined cycle power plant located in Silicon Valley, located in unincorporated Coyote Valley, south of San Jose, California and north of Morgan Hill, California. The power plant is owned by Calpine and powered by natural gas. Some of the power generated by the plant is sent to far away places via Path 15, a major electrical power transmission corridor that is connected to the power plant.

In June 2017, Calpine Corporation notified the California Independent System Operator (CAISO) that unless it was granted reliability-must-run (RMR) status, it intended to take the plant offline at the end of 2017. [1] (Reliability-must-run (RMR) status is a designation that a power plant is essential for the reliability of providing needed power at times of peak demand, and/or to maintain a level of redundancy for when other power generation facilities fail.) [1]

Calpine stated that it was no longer economical to continue to run the Metcalf plant at the currently low wholesale electricity prices; [2] the result of an electricity glut in California.

The glut in wholesale prices resulted from policies which guarantee utilities like Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), (a regulated monopoly), return on investment for building new power plants, even when they are not needed. [3]

References

  1. 1 2 Fordney, Jason (2017-09-25). "Metcalf Reliability-Must-Run Draws Scrutiny". RTO Insider. Archived from the original on 2017-12-31. Retrieved 2017-12-30. Calpine in June told CAISO that it intends to take the Metcalf plant offline at the end of this year.
  2. ↑ Avalos, George (2017-12-13). "PG&E customers face higher bills under PUC battery plan". Bay Area News Group. Archived from the original on 2017-12-18. Retrieved 2017-12-30. "Prevailing electricity market prices will not support continued operation of Metcalf," Smith stated.
  3. ↑ Penn, Ivan; Menezes, Ryan (2017-02-05). "Californians are paying billions for power they don't need". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on 2017-02-22. Retrieved 2017-12-30.

37°13′14″N121°44′45″W / 37.2206°N 121.7457°W / 37.2206; -121.7457

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