Fuel Cell Facility
Summary
SCH Number
2011088164
Public Agency
California State University Board of Trustees
Document Title
Fuel Cell Facility
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
8/17/2011
Document Description
Construct a 4,400 sf fuel cell facility in partnership with Pacific Gas & Electric Company. The proposed 1.4 megawatt facility will be comprised of a molten carbonate fuel cell (MCFC) that operates at high temperatures and allows natural gas to be used with an external reforming system to produce electricity. The facility will consist of multiple skids classified into three major subsystem: 1) Mechanical Balance of Plant (MBOP) which supplies fresh air, cleans and heats fuel and water and includes the power plant control system; 2) Electrical Balance of Plant (EBOP) which will convert the fuel cell DC power into utility grade AC power; and 3) DPC Module which will perform the electrochemical conversion of the continuous fuel supply into DC electric power. While the electrical power generated by the facility will be diverted directly to the PG&E grid, the waste heat generated by the fuel cell will be used to heat the campus swimming pool, thereby reducing dependence on existing boilers that currently serve that function. Another byproduct of the fuel cell facility is the discharge water, which will be utilized for campus irrigation thereby reducing water consumption.
Contact Information
Name
Jim Zavagno
Agency Name
California State University, East Bay
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Counties
Alameda
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
C:29;S:15300
Reasons for Exemption
The capacity of the proposed fuel cell facility is well below the 50 megawatt threshold for cogeneration equipment that has been determined to not have a significant effect on the environment and therefore exempt from CEQA provisions. The facility will produce air emissions lower than the amount that would require review under the applicable county rules and also compels with applicable air quality laws. These air emission include: 1) NOx (0.01lb/MWh), 2) SOx (0.0001 lb/MWh), and 3) PM10 (0.000002 lb/MWh). The facility will produce noise levels of 72 dB(A) at 10 ft, which is acceptable in the current institutional setting of the campus, and will not impact any residential structures, as none are located nearby. The facility will have more of an industrial appearance than most buildings on campus, which as a "demonstration site" to be studies by students and faculty provides the authenticity of a working fuel cell; however, the facility is for the most part screened from the adjacent areas surrounding the campus. Furthermore, the project will have no significant adverse impacts on: 1) agricultural, biological, cultural resources, and mineral, 2) geology and soils, 3) hazards, and hazardous materials, 4) hydrology and water quality, 5) land use planning, 6) noise, 7) population and housing, 8) public services, 9) recreation, 10) transportation and traffic, 11) utilities and service systems.
Disclaimer: The document was originally posted before CEQAnet had the capability to host attachments for the public. To obtain the original attachments for this document, please contact the lead agency at the contact information listed above. You may also contact the OPR via email at state.clearinghouse@opr.ca.gov or via phone at (916) 445-0613.