Calpine Receives Permit to Build 670MW Energy Center in California

The California Energy Commission recently gave Calpine Corp. a permit to build a 670MW Inland Empire Energy Center in Riverside County, Calif., near Romoland, Calif. The commission says the county is growing rapidly, and therefore so will the need for electricity in the years to come. The plant will be a natural gas-fired, combined cycle power plant that could provide as much as 704MW during the summer when electricity demands are at a high. The state of California limits nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions under a cap and trade program known as Reclaim. As part of the permit, Calpine is required to purchase NOx Reclaim trading credits from the South Coast Air Quality Management District prior to building to offset the remaining NOx emissions.