Silicon Valley Power

Last updated
Silicon Valley Power
TypePublic
Industry Energy and utility
Founded1896
Headquarters Santa Clara, California
Key ExecutiveManuel Pineda, Chief Electric Utility Officer
Products Electricity
Peak Demand587.8 megawatts
Operating Revenue422.9 million (CY 2019)
Owner(s)City of Santa Clara
Employees198
Website www.siliconvalleypower.com

Silicon Valley Power (SVP) is a not-for-profit municipal electric utility owned and operated by the City of Santa Clara, California, United States. SVP provides electricity service to approximately 55,116 residential and business customers, including large corporations such as Intel, Applied Materials, Owens Corning and NVIDIA. SVP also owns and maintains a dark fiber network named SVP Fiber Enterprise.

Contents

History

The City of Santa Clara electric department was founded in 1896 when it installed 46 streetlights powered by a direct current generator. From January 1904 to 1965, the electric department began purchasing energy for resale to Santa Clara’s customers from the United Gas and Electric Company of San Jose, which later became part of Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E). [1] PG&E supplied Santa Clara’s electric needs until 1965, when the electric department began to purchase its power from the Central Valley Project (CVP), supervised by the United States Bureau of Reclamation. In 1968, Santa Clara became a founding member of the Northern California Power Agency (NCPA) to work with other municipal electric utilities to jointly develop cost-effective energy sources. [2]

In 1980, the Santa Clara electric department became an energy-producing utility for the first time since 1903 when it launched its own 6-megawatt (MW) cogeneration project, the first of three natural gas-fueled electricity generation plants in the City of Santa Clara.[ citation needed ] In 1983, Santa Clara and its NCPA partners became the first cities in the U.S. to invest in and operate a publicly-owned geothermal plant, [3] the 110 MW NCPA Geothermal Project, which is one of the 22 geothermal power plants at The Geysers, [4] with Santa Clara having a 55% ownership interest.

In 1998, the Santa Clara electric department was renamed Silicon Valley Power (SVP). Subsequent efforts to expand and diversify its electricity supply led to the construction of the Donald Von Raesfeld combined cycle natural gas plant (2005), various partnerships in wind and hydroelectric generation sources, [5] and 25 percent ownership of the Lodi Energy Center combined cycle natural gas plant (2012). [6]

In 2007, SVP launched Santa Clara Green Power to provide residents and businesses with the option to use only renewable energy. In 2012, over 38 percent of the electricity distributed by SVP was from green resources. [7] In addition, the City owns an extensive dark fiber optic network to serve business customers. The SVP Fiber Enterprise is a department of SVP.

SVP introduced two new services in 2013. Santa Clara was provided free citywide outdoor Wi-Fi access via an AMI wireless system branded as SVP MeterConnect, [8] and helped fund electric vehicle (EV) charging stations at the Central Park Library and the Santa Clara Convention Center. [9] SVP’s complete AMI project is being rolled out in the 2015–2016 time frame.[ citation needed ]

Power portfolio

In 2017, the SVP power mix consisted of 38% from eligible renewable resources as defined by the California Energy Commission, 34% from large hydroelectric, 16% from natural gas, 9% from coal, and 3% from unspecified sources. [10] Total kilowatt-hour (kWh) retail sales in 2018 were 3,566,293,836 kWh. [11]

Facilities

Generating facilities owned by the City of Santa Clara and located in the city provided 32.5 percent of the electricity consumed in Santa Clara. Natural gas-fueled facilities are the Donald Von Raesfeld natural gas power plant (147.8 MW), Gianera Generating Station (49.5 MW) and Cogeneration Plant #1 (7 MW). [12] In addition, power is also generated by the Jenny Strand Solar Research and Development Park (100 kW), [13] the Tasman Parking Structure Solar PV (400 kW) [4] and by the capture and burning of methane gas from a closed City of Santa Clara landfill (750 kW). [14] SVP also owns a 230-kilovolt (kV) transmission line that brings electricity into the city from non-local sources.

Generating sources owned by SVP and located outside the city include the Stony Creek Hydroelectric System and Grizzly Hydroelectric Project.

Joint Power Agencies (JPA) of which SVP is a member include the NCPA (hydroelectric, natural gas, and geothermal projects) and M-S-R (coal and wind). SVP also contracts to receive electricity through power purchase agreements with entities such as Iberdrola and Seawest LLC (wind); Western Area Power Association, Tri-Dam Project, Friant Power Authority (hydroelectric); Recurrent Energy (solar); and G2 Energy and Ameresco (landfill gas). [15]

SVP receives generation produced outside Santa Clara via transmission facilities owned and operated by PG&E under the direction of the California Independent System Operator (CAISO). [16] SVP also participates in the Transmission Agency of Northern California (TANC), [17] which is interconnected to PG&E’s transmission facilities.

Regulatory agencies

SVP must adhere to the laws and regulations of the U.S. and the State of California and is involved, in various ways, with multiple entities, including: Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC); North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC); California Energy Commission (CEC); CAISO; California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA); Bay Area Air Quality Management District; California Department of Toxic Substances Control; California Department of Transportation; and the California Air Resources Board.[ citation needed ]

Executives

The City of Santa Clara City Council [18] has governing authority over SVP via the city manager and the Director of Electric Utility, who reports to the city manager.

Related Research Articles

Puget Sound Energy, Inc. (PSE) is an energy utility company based in the U.S. state of Washington that provides electrical power and natural gas to the Puget Sound region. The utility serves electricity to more than 1.2 million customers in Island, King, Kitsap, Kittitas, Pierce, Skagit, Thurston, and Whatcom counties, and provides natural gas to 877,000 customers in King, Kittitas, Lewis, Pierce, Snohomish and Thurston counties. The company's electric and natural gas service area spans 6,000 square miles (16,000 km2).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electricity sector in Canada</span>

The electricity sector in Canada has played a significant role in the economic and political life of the country since the late 19th century. The sector is organized along provincial and territorial lines. In a majority of provinces, large government-owned integrated public utilities play a leading role in the generation, transmission, and distribution of electricity. Ontario and Alberta have created electricity markets in the last decade to increase investment and competition in this sector of the economy.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mercury Energy</span> New Zealand electricity generating and retailing company

Mercury NZ Limited is a New Zealand electricity generation and multi-product utility retailer of electricity, gas, broadband and mobile telephone services. All the company's electricity generation is renewable. Mercury has a pre-paid electricity product sub-brand GLOBUG. Mercury Energy is also the largest electricity retailer in New Zealand.

Berkshire Hathaway Energy is a holding company and subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, which owns 100% of the company. Berkshire has owned a controlling stake since 1999. The company also controls power distribution companies in the United Kingdom and Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Geothermal energy in the United States</span> Overview of geothermal power in the United States of America

Geothermal energy in the United States was first used for electric power production in 1960. The Geysers in Sonoma and Lake counties, California was developed into what is now the largest geothermal steam electrical plant in the world, at 1,517 megawatts. Other geothermal steam fields are known in the western United States and Alaska. Geothermally generated electric power can be dispatchable to follow the demands of changing loads. Environmental impact of this energy source includes hydrogen sulfide emissions, corrosive or saline chemicals discharged in waste water, possible seismic effects from water injection into rock formations, waste heat and noise.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Geysers</span> Worlds largest geothermal field, California

The Geysers is the world's largest geothermal field, containing a complex of 18 geothermal power plants, drawing steam from more than 350 wells, located in the Mayacamas Mountains approximately 72 miles (116 km) north of San Francisco, California.

As of August 2020 Chile had diverse sources of electric power: for the National Electric System, providing over 99% of the county's electric power, hydropower represented around 26.7% of its installed capacity, biomass 1.8%, wind power 8.8%, solar 12.1%, geothermal 0.2%, natural gas 18.9%, coal 20.3%, and petroleum-based capacity 11.3%. Prior to that time, faced with natural gas shortages, Chile began in 2007 to build its first liquefied natural gas terminal and re-gasification plant at Quintero near the capital city of Santiago to secure supply for its existing and upcoming gas-fired thermal plants. In addition, it had engaged in the construction of several new hydropower and coal-fired thermal plants. But by July 2020 91% of the new capacity under construction was of renewable power, 46.8% of the total solar and 25.6% wind, with most of the remainder hydro.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electricity sector in El Salvador</span>

El Salvador's energy sector is largerly focused on renewables. El Salvador is the largest producer of geothermal energy in Central America. Except for hydroelectric generation, which is almost totally owned and operated by the public company CEL, the rest of the generation capacity is in private hands. With demand expected to grow at a rate of 5% in the coming years, the Government's 2007 National Energy Strategy identified several hydroelectric and geothermal projects as the best option to meet demand in the future and to diversify the country's energy mix.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Energy in Romania</span>

Energy in Romania describes energy and electricity production, consumption and import in Romania.

The Northern California Power Agency, located in Roseville, California, is a joint powers agency formed in 1968 to provide its members with electrical energy purchasing, aggregation, scheduling and management. It coordinates with the California Independent System Operator.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electricity policy of Alberta</span>

The electricity policy of Alberta, enacted through several agencies, is to create an electricity sector with a competitive market that attracts investors, while providing consumers with reliable and affordable electricity, as well as reducing harmful pollution to protect the environment and the health of Albertans, according to their 2022 website.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hydroelectric power in the United States</span>

Hydroelectricity is, as of 2019, the second-largest renewable source of energy in both generation and popping pills in the United States. In 2021, hydroelectric power produced 31.5% of the total renewable electricity, and 6.3% of the total U.S. electricity.

Italy's total electricity consumption was 302.75 terawatt-hour (TWh) in 2020, of which 270.55 TWh (89.3%) was produced domestically and the remaining 10.7% was imported.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Energy in California</span> Overview of the use of energy in California, U.S.

Energy is a major area of the economy of California. California is the state with the largest population and the largest economy in the United States. It is second in energy consumption after Texas. As of 2018, per capita consumption was the fourth-lowest in the United States partially because of the mild climate and energy efficiency programs.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">California Independent System Operator</span> Non-profit Independent System Operator serving California

The California Independent System Operator (CAISO) is a non-profit Independent System Operator (ISO) serving California. It oversees the operation of California's bulk electric power system, transmission lines, and electricity market generated and transmitted by its member utilities. CAISO is one of the largest ISOs in the world, delivering 300 million megawatt-hours of electricity each year and managing about 80% of California's electric flow.

The United States state of Arkansas is a significant producer of natural gas and a minor producer of petroleum.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Electricity sector in the Philippines</span> Overview of the electricity sector in the Philippines

The electricity sector in the Philippines provides electricity through power generation, transmission, and distribution to many parts of the country. The Philippines is divided into three electrical grids, one each for Luzon, the Visayas and Mindanao. As of June 2016, the total installed capacity in the Philippines was 20,055 megawatts (MW), of which 14,348 MW was on the Luzon grid. As of June, 2016, the all-time peak demand on Luzon was 9,726 MW at 2:00 P.M. on May 2, 2016; on Visayas was 1,878 MW at 2:00 P.M. on May 11, 2016; and on Mindanao was 1,593 MW at 1:35 P.M. on June 8, 2016. However, about 12% of Filipinos have no access to electricity. The Philippines is also one of the countries in the world that has a fully functioning electricity market since 2006 called the Philippine Wholesale Electricity Spot Market(WESM) and is operated by an independent market operator.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Renewable energy in California</span> Solar, geothermal, and biomass and hydroelectric power generation

California produces more renewable energy than any other state in the United States except Texas. In 2018, California ranked first in the nation as a producer of electricity from solar, geothermal, and biomass resources and fourth in the nation in conventional hydroelectric power generation. As of 2017, over half of the electricity (52.7%) produced was from renewable sources.

References

  1. "Silicon Valley Power Timeline". Silicon Valley Power. 2013. Retrieved 3 May 2016.
  2. A Short History of the City of Santa Clara Electric Department City of Santa Clara. Electric Utility Committee.
  3. Clutter, Ted J. (April 27, 2010). "Absolute Commitment: Geothermal Operations at the Geysers". Renewable Energy World.
  4. 1 2 “California and Western Electricity Supply Outlook Report, Appendices A-E” California Energy Commission (2005), p B-23
  5. “City of Santa Clara Electric Resources” Siliconvalleypower.com (2013) Archived 2014-02-03 at the Wayback Machine
  6. “State, Local Agencies Come Together to Dedicate State of the Art Lodi Energy Center” Northern California Power Association news release August 10, 2012
  7. “2013 Power Content Label” Silicon Valley [ permanent dead link ]
  8. "Kurhi, Eric. “Santa Clara becomes a free Wi-Fi city through power utility,” San Jose Mercury News (March 27, 2013)
  9. “Library Unveils Electric Vehicle Charging Stations,” Santa Clara Weekly,
  10. "Renewable Energy FAQ". Silicon Valley Power. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  11. "Utility Fact Sheet". Silicon Valley Power. Retrieved 9 October 2019.
  12. City of Santa Clara Electric Resources
  13. “Silicon Valley Power Adds 100-Kilowatt Solar Array to Santa Clara Grid,” City of Santa Clara,
  14. “Silicon Valley Power Adds 110 Million KWH Of Wind Power,” The Power of Green,
  15. "Green, Greener, Greenest: A summary of the City of Santa Clara's efforts to protect the environment".
  16. "California ISO". www.caiso.com. Retrieved 2017-06-05.
  17. "Transmission Agency of Northern California". tanc.us. Retrieved 2017-06-05.
  18. "Council Members" City of Santa Clara