California extends life of four ocean-cooled gas-fired power plants to bolster grid

摘要

State officials in California have voted to extend the life of four coastal gas-fired power plants that use ocean water for cooling, in response to requests from utility and grid operators for greater grid stability during extreme weather events until renewable options come online over the next three years. The extension was approved ahead of forecasts of another heatwave across western US states this weekend, which prompted California’s grid operator to order transmission line operators and power plants to postpone maintenance work. The State Water Resources Control Board this week approved a three-year extension for the Alamitos, Huntington Beach and Ormond Beach generating stations to 31 December 2023, and a one-year extension for Redondo Beach plant to 31 December 2021.