Silicon Valley Power (Santa Clara, California) recently began construction on the Donald Von Raesfeld (DVR) Power Plant. Named in honor of former Santa Clara city manager, city council member and public power supporter Donald Von Raesfeld, the plant is part of a broad Silicon Valley Power capacity upgrade program initiated more than five years ago as a measure to stay ahead of the Bay Area's growing power demands. The locally owned and operated 147-MW gas-fired power plant is scheduled for completion in late 2004. It is intended to supply electricity to Silicon Valley Power's customers, providing approximately one-third of the utility's requirement. When operational, the facility will enhance local power reliability in and around the city of Santa Clara, while providing replacement power as current contracts expire or are reduced.

“The timing is right for the Donald Von Raesfeld project as Govenor Schwarzenegger takes office with a renewed emphasis on the importance of developing additional power resources in California,” said Santa Clara City Mayor Patricia Mahan. “We take great pride in knowing that our proactive efforts will go a long way in helping to alleviate the overall burden on the state's power grid.”

According to recent Silicon Valley Power forecasts, area power consumption is expected to exceed available supply within the next three to five years. Though the DVR Plant is being built to serve the electricity needs of residents and businesses within the city of Santa Clara, its output will contribute significantly to the pool of available power resources upon which the Bay Area relies. From an energy standpoint, Silicon Valley is currently one of the most vulnerable areas in the state because of the lack of local generation facilities and the resulting dependence on an imported power supply. The new Silicon Valley power plant is a step toward decreasing the region's overwhelming reliance on outside energy sources.

The DVR Power Plant will be situated on a city-owned 2.86-acre industrial parcel west of the intersection of Layafette Street and Duane Avenue and immediately north of Silicon Valley Power's Kifer Receiving Station in Santa Clara.
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