NRG allowed to suspend proceedings on Puente Power Project
The California Energy Commission granted Houston-based NRG Energy’s request to suspend its proceedings on the Oxnard Puente Power Project.
The decision gives the company six months to decide whether it wants to move forward with the Puente proposal, during which time regulators and utility Southern California Edison have indicated that they plan to conduct an expedited request for offer process. The new RFO would target renewable or preferred resources such as solar, battery storage and demand-response contracts.
NRG has until April 20, 2018 to file any additional materials for the Puente proposal. Proceedings will be reinstated May 1, 2018.
The company has told the Business Times that it will look at any new RFO to decide whether it wants to submit a new proposal that would include preferred resources.
If renewables are not able to meet the demand or are not found to be feasible, the 262-megawatt natural gas-fired Puente project could move forward after its May suspension is lifted.
However, it would require a discretionary approval from the Energy Commission that would override current laws, ordinances, regulations or standards related to the environmental impacts of the new plant, according to an Oct. 5 letter from a CEC committee that evaluated the proposal.
• Contact Marissa Nall at [email protected].
