The California Public Utilities Commission on Thursday approved SDG&E‘s purchase of power from the planned Carlsbad Energy Center, paving the way for the new plant.
The 500 megawatt natural gas peaking plant is expected to be online in 2017 on the site of the current Encina station, which will be retired and demolished.
NRG Energy said the new plant will help ensure energy reliability in southern California following the closure of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station in 2013.
“We appreciate the CPUC’s vote of confidence that the Carlsbad Energy Center is the best approach to have the appropriate, flexible capacity online by 2017 to enable California to reach its greenhouse gas reduction goals through building additional renewable generation while preserving the reliability of the grid,” said John Chillemi, president of NRG Energy’s West region.
Chillemi also thanked SDG&E and the city of Carlsbad for their support of the project.
