Metcalf Energy Center
Encyclopedia
The Metcalf Energy Center is a 600 megawatt combined cycle
power plant located in South San Jose, California
in an area known as Coyote Valley
. 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.
Combined cycle
In electric power generation a combined cycle is an assembly of heat engines that work in tandem off the same source of heat, converting it into mechanical energy, which in turn usually drives electrical generators...
power plant located in South San Jose, California
San Jose, California
San Jose is the third-largest city in California, the tenth-largest in the U.S., and the county seat of Santa Clara County which is located at the southern end of San Francisco Bay...
in an area known as Coyote Valley
Coyote Valley
Coyote Valley is a large expanse of farmland, orchards and homes, approximately in size, located in a narrowing of the Santa Clara Valley, in the southernmost part of San Jose, California...
. The power plant is owned by Calpine
Calpine
Calpine Corporation is a Fortune 500 power company founded in 1984 in San Jose, California.Calpine's headquarters were permanently moved from San Jose to Houston, Texas in 2009. The company's stock was traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol CPN until it was delisted on December 5,...
and powered by natural gas
Natural gas
Natural gas is a naturally occurring gas mixture consisting primarily of methane, typically with 0–20% higher hydrocarbons . It is found associated with other hydrocarbon fuel, in coal beds, as methane clathrates, and is an important fuel source and a major feedstock for fertilizers.Most natural...
. Some of the power generated by the plant is sent to far away places via Path 15
Path 15
Path 15 is an portion of the north-south power transmission corridor in California, U.S. It forms a part of the Pacific AC Intertie and the California-Oregon Transmission Project....
, a major electrical power transmission corridor that is connected to the power plant.
Development timeline
- April 30, 1999 Application for Certification (AFC) filed with the California Energy CommissionCalifornia Energy CommissionThe California Energy Commission is California’s primary energy policy and planning agency. Created in 1974 and headquartered in Sacramento, the Commission has responsibility for activities that include forecasting future energy needs, promoting energy efficiency through appliance and building...
(CEC) - June 23, 1999 CEC determines application is Data Adequate
- October 10, 2000 Final Staff Assessment released
- January to May 2001 Evidentiary Hearings
- June 18, 2001 Presiding Member's Proposed Decision released
- August 24, 2001 Revised Presiding Member's Proposed Decision released
- September 24, 2001 Project approved by Commission
- Mid 2002 Construction of the plant began
- June 2005 Project begins commercial operation