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RPU would build, own and operate the facility. The proposed site is owned
by the City of Riverside and is adjacent to the City's Water Quality Control
Plant (WQCP) at Jurupa Avenue and Payton Street. The power plant is the second
plant to be built within city limits that is designed to generate electricity
for the residents and businesses of Riverside. The gas turbine engines used
to operate the plant are clean-burning, and considered one of the most environmentally
sound methods used today.
The proposed project would include the construction of approximately 1.75
miles of new double circuit 69kV transmission line interconnecting RERC to
the Mountain View substation.
The proposed transmission line route, supported on wood or steel poles,
would leave the plant site and travel east along the south side of Jurupa
Avenue along the existing overhead pole line. The line would turn south at
Shepherd following the east side of the street and tie in to the existing
Mt. View Substation. The attached map shows the proposed site location and
transmission line route.
In some areas along the route, easements may be needed or expanded, in order
to place the transmission poles. The project will not take any land or property
of the homeowners along the proposed transmission route.
Natural gas fuel would be supplied to RERC from a natural gas transmission
line that passes next to the northeast corner of the site. Except for water
that would be needed by the operators of the plant (which would come directly
from the City's general water supply), all other water needed to run and
cool the plant or landscape surrounding areas would come from reclaimed water
that is supplied by the adjacent WQCP. The wastewater from the RERC itself
will be handled by a Zero Liquid Discharge (ZLD) system that makes it possible
to reclaim the water so it is not discharged outside the property limits.
The plant is being planned to also draw upon the neighboring WQCP for an
alternate generation source, in the event there is ever a “worst-case
scenario” where the state’s electric power grid surrounding Riverside
is down. The WQCP has its own small generation station on site, which is
fueled using methane gas that results from treating the City’s wastewater.
These engines are started using compressed air that is always charged and
does not rely on outside sources to be started. This provides, in effect,
a “battery” to jump-start the RERC’s turbine engines if
needed.
The project will comply with all federal, state and local environmental
regulations. Air quality standards will be met by employing the best available
control technology for air emissions.
The noise created by the power plant when it is operating is within the
City’s requirements of 65 decibels at the site’s boundaries,
according to project engineers. Seventy (70) decibels is about the same as
average street noise. As the project lies below grade, or in a recessed area
of the property, the visual impact of the project will be minimal. The height
of the stacks is comparable to the power poles in the area.
The City is currently permitting the project through the California Energy
Commission (CEC) which has jurisdiction for all power plants 50 MW and larger.
The City is utilizing the CEC’s Small Power Plant Exemption (SPPE)
process and filed its application in late March.
Technical or project schedule questions should be directed to James W. Reede,
Jr. Ed.D, the Energy Commission's Project Manager at (916) 653-1245 or by
e-mail to jreede@energy.state.ca.us. The Energy Commission's web site features
details about the project at http://www.energy.ca.gov/sitingcases/riverside.
The City of Riverside contact for information about this project is Bob
Gill at (909) 826-5837.
A copy of the SPPE application document is available for public inspection
at the:
Riverside Main Library
3581 Mission Inn Ave.
Riverside, CA 92501
Arlington Branch Library
9556 Magnolia Ave.
Riverside, CA 92503
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