Quick Facts
Project: Avenal Energy is a 600-MW combined-cycle power plant with two natural gas–fired turbines and one steam generator.
Location: The project site is located within Avenal city limits, east of the city and the Kettleman Hills, on land designated and zoned by the City of Avenal for an industrial park. The property is more than six miles from any city neighborhood.
Water: Avenal Energy will be air-cooled and will utilize water recycling equipment to reduce the normal average water consumption to less than 12.4 gallons per minute.
Electric Transmission: To minimize visual impact, Avenal Energy's 230-kV electric transmission line will parallel an existing transmission corridor adjacent to the site, north to the Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E) Gates substation located approximately six miles away.
Natural Gas: Natural gas will be used to fuel Avenal Energy. Natural gas is a vital component of the world's supply of energy and one of the cleanest, safest and most useful of all energy sources.
Natural Gas Supply: Natural gas fuel for the plant will be provided through approximately two miles of new pipeline that will connect with an existing PG&E natural gas pipeline that runs parallel to Interstate 5.
Permitting: On December 16, 2009, the California Energy Commission approved the Avenal Energy project.
Appropriate documents have also been filed with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District. The project is expected to be fully permitted by early 2011.