The California Energy Commission's Presiding Member's Proposed Decision (PMPD) has recommended that the commission license the proposed 145-MW San Francisco Electric Reliability Project (SFERP).

The Licensing Committee - composed of Commissioner James Boyd, Presiding Member, and Commissioner John Geesman, Associate Member - reviewed and approved the SFERP's Application for Certification.

If approved by the full commission, the project, a simple-cycle peaking power plant, would operate on a 4-acre parcel in San Francisco's southeastern Potrero District. The city and county of San Francisco proposes to operate the facility up to 24 hours per day, seven days per week, but not more than 12,000 hours per year for all three combustion turbines combined. The Energy Commission will consider permitting the facility at a special business meeting scheduled for Oct. 3, 2006.

The project will include construction of a new 115-kV switchyard on the site's north side. Construction of the SFERP, from site preparation and grading to commercial operation, is expected to take about a year. The plant may begin generating electricity in late 2007. During the peak construction period, the project will provide up to 264 construction jobs with an average of 161 workers present per month. About 11 workers will maintain and operate the project. City officials estimate the project's capital costs around $140 million.

The Licensing Committee will hold a conference on the PMPD on Sept. 25, 2006, to discuss comments submitted.