Request to Amend the Site Certification Agreement:

On August 18, 2020 the Washington Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council (EFSEC) received a written request to amend the current Grays Harbor Energy Center (GHEC) Site Certification Agreement (SCA). The amendment request primarily consists of two distinct revisions to the SCA.

One of the SCA revisions includes the installation of General Electric’s Advanced Gas Path (AGP) package in the operational combustion turbines in Units 1 and 2. 

The second SCA revision is a request for EFSEC to extend the start of construction deadline in the SCA for Units 3 and 4.

GHEC’s SCA amendment request would change the following in the GHEC SCA:

• Increase combustion turbine output to 181.2 MW from the current 175 MW for operating units 1 and 2.
• Extend the start of construction date for Units 3 and 4 to be no later than February 18, 2028. This extends the deadline to begin construction for units 3 and 4, which is 10 years from the date of execution of GHEC SCA Amendment 5, to February 18, 2021.

EFSEC Next Steps: 

EFSEC is seeking your input on the GHEC SCA amendment request. Pursuant to EFSEC WAC 463-66-030, EFSEC will hold a public hearing session on GHEC’s SCA amendment request. EFSEC’s public hearing session will be held on October 6, 2020 and will begin with a presentation by GHEC on the amendment request, followed by opportunity for public comment. 

Public Comment:

You can submit your comments on the GHEC proposed amendment request beginning Thursday, September 24th, 2020 through midnight Tuesday, October 6th, 2020:

Comment Online:

You can submit your comments online via the EFSEC website: https://comments.efsec.wa.gov.

Comment by Mail:

Mail in your written comments to the EFSEC office:

EFSEC 621 Woodland Square Loop
PO Box 43172
Lacey, WA 98503-3172

Comment at the October 6, 2020 public hearing session:

The public hearing session will be held on October 6, 2020 from 4:00pm – 6:00pm. The public hearing session will be held remotely and can be attended online or by phone.

To help EFSEC facilitate this online hearing we are developing a list of public speakers prior to the meeting. EFSEC is requesting that speakers please notify EFSEC prior to the hearing date by phone at (360) 664-1345 or by email at efsec@utc.wa.gov, so that we can add you to the speaker sign-up list.

To attend online via Skype go to:

https://lync.wa.gov/utc.wa.gov/meet/joan.owens/YH9913TR

To attend by phone:

1 (360) 407-3810 ID: 214817#

Review GHEC’s current SCA and Amendment Request:

For more information about the SCA Amendment, contact Amí Kidder at (360) 664-1305 or ami.kidder@utc.wa.gov . 

To request ADA accommodation or materials in a format for the visually impaired, contact the EFSEC office at (360) 664-1345.

 

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SCA Amendment 5

 

General Description of Amendment 5 Request:

Grays Harbor Energy LLC (the Certificate Holder) proposed an increase of the Satsop Combustion Turbine (CT) Project's maximum generating capacity by approximately 650 megawatts (MW) to approximately 1,300 MW. As with the existing facility (Phase 1 - Units 1 and 2), the addition would consist of two gas turbines and one steam turbine in a 2-on-1 configuration that would generate electricity to supply growing regional electrical demand. The new facilities are referred to as (Phase 2 - Units 3 and 4)( artist illustration).

The October 30, 2009 Amendment Request No. 5 specifically asked EFSEC to:

Change the name of the project from the Satsop CT Project to the Grays Harbor Energy Center (GHEC).

Allow the addition of two combustion turbine generators and one steam generator (Units 3 and 4) to increase the facility capacity by 650 MW to approximately 1,300 MW.

Enlarge the project site by 10 acres to allow space for construction laydown and access. (The Certificate Holder subsequently modified this portion of the request. The Certificate Holder will temporarily lease land from the Grays Harbor Public Development Authority (PDA) to serve as a construction laydown area.)

Approve a PSD permit for Units 3 and 4 (existing PSD permit would remain in place for Units 1 and 2).

Increase the total maximum water withdrawal from 9.2 cfs to 16 cfs. No new water authorizations are requested. The additional water will be purchased or leased from the PDA, which has an existing water authorization.

Units 3 and 4 will be located entirely within the boundaries of the previously permitted site. Units 3 and 4 will be located on land that has already been disturbed and developed for industrial use. The GHEC will continue to be fueled by natural gas and will continue to utilize the natural gas pipeline installed for the existing facility.

Power produced by the GHEC will continue to be routed through transmission lines and the Satsop substation that are owned by the Bonneville Power Administration.