http://www.energy.ca.gov/sitingcases/picopower/index.html

There is a 147MW plant proposed for Santa Clara, similar to the Los Esteros plant now under construction using 50MW turbines. It also has snubbed SCONOX technology which would eliminate the need for ammonia and secondary PM10 formation. At the MEC hearings it was stated that SCONOX was BACT for the smaller turbines and yet no-one is required to use it!

The STCAG appeal goes to the heart of imposing genuine BACT and not just something "as good as the last one built." Coincidentally Calpine purchased the Otay Mesa development from PG&E NEG, a plant that was licensed with SCONOX as the primary consideration for emissions control. It has now been reverted to SCR with ammonia, and it looks like they are trying to punt the oxidation catalyst and increase the stack height to 160ft. see compliance page.

Calpine also purchased the Pastoria plant development from Enron. It was originally targeted to use XONON, which admittedly does not seem ready for prime time, but will now use SCR and ammonia. In fact it has been modified to use the more potent anhydrous ammonia, the stacks were also cut from 213 to 150ft, the Oxidation catalyst removed, the Pm10 emissions from the cooling towers increased, and the passive plume abatement in the cooling towers eliminated because it will not work.
see compliance page. But in all this they reduced emissions and importantly the offsets they are required to purchase!!

Wonder if the plume abatement at MEC will work as advertised?
Wonder how many changes we have in store through the compliance process which does not seem quite so open to the public as the original hearings. None of the applicant's data is available on the CEC web site for all the changes mentioned above.