EnergyOnline
Services

RSS FEED

EnergyOnline.com rss

News

NuScale Power Achieves Standard Design Approval from NRC for 77 MW SMR

LCG, May 30, 2025--NuScale Power Corporation (NuScale), a leading provider of advanced small modular reactor (SMR) nuclear technology, yesterday announced that it has received design approval from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) for its uprated 77 MW power modules. NuScale states that it remains the only SMR technology company with design approval from the NRC, and the company remains on track for deployment by 2030, with 50- and 77-MW SMR options.

Read more

EIA Presents Analysis of California's Solar and Wind Power Curtailment Challenges

LCG, May 29, 2025--The U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA) released an analysis yesterday showing that the California Independent System Operator (CAISO), the grid operator for most of the state, is increasing its curtailment of the rapidly growing solar- and wind-powered generation facilities in order to balance electricity supply and demand, which is necessary to maintain a stable electric system.

Read more

Industry News

Calpine May Build Another Big NorCal Power Plant

LCG, Dec. 13, 2000--Calpine Corp. said yesterday it has begun studies which could lead to development of a 1,100 megawatt natural gas-fired, combined-cycle power plant near Livermore, Calif., across the bay from San Francisco and beyond the Oakland Hills.

The proposed $550 million East Altamont Energy Center would be built on a 50-acre site adjacent to a Western Area Power Administration substation. The area is dominated by major regional high voltage transmission lines and natural gas pipelines, with a gas compressor station nearby.

Jerry Toenyes, Wapa's Sierra Nevada regional manager welcomed the news. "California needs additional generating facilities and the proposed site for the East Altamont Energy Center is well suited toimprove electric system reliability as well as provide much needed generation," he said.

The new plant would not likely produce power before the summer of 2004. Calpine figures it would take two years to build it, leaving a year and a half for permitting. So far, two years seems to be the fastest the California Energy Commission can go when permitting a power plant, and that was a temporary license for the 320 megawatt Sunrise Power Project which will be built in the middle of an oilfield.

The East Altamont project is not meant as a replacement for the 600 megawatt Metcalf Energy Center proposed for San Jose, which the San Jose City Council rejected November 28 even though the plant had support from the Sierra Club, the American Lung Association and the Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce.

Those endorsements weren't enough to overcome opposition from folks like San Jose Mayor Ron Gonzales, who has said he doubts the need for new power plants.

East Altamont ought to be able to avoid "not in my backyard" objections. Scott Haggerty, an Alameda County supervisor who represents the Livermore area, said it wouldn't affect the residents of the county. "This is going in an area that is rural and will remain rural," he said, "and if you're going to have a power plant, this is probably one of the best locations for it."

Copyright © 2025 LCG Consulting. All rights reserved. Terms and Copyright
UPLAN-NPM
The Locational Marginal Price Model (LMP) Network Power Model
Uniform Storage Model
A Battery Simulation Model
UPLAN-ACE
Day Ahead and Real Time Market Simulation
UPLAN-G
The Gas Procurement and Competitive Analysis System
PLATO
Database of Plants, Loads, Assets, Transmission...
CAISO CRR Auctions
Monthly Price and Congestion Forecasting Service