Market-leading Adoption of Scalable Low GWP Refrigerant Heat Pump in a Retrofit Application
Summary
SCH Number
2024051000
Public Agency
California Energy Commission
Document Title
Market-leading Adoption of Scalable Low GWP Refrigerant Heat Pump in a Retrofit Application
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
5/22/2024
Document Description
The project will develop holistic and scalable solutions for transitioning conventional central plants to heat recovery chiller systems that use low GWP refrigerants. The project will fund equipment including gas boilers and chiller systems to retrofit an existing central plant at a demonstration site.
Contact Information
Name
Jackson Thach
Agency Name
California Energy Commission
Job Title
Mechanical Engineer
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency
Phone
Location
Coordinates
Cities
South San Francisco
Counties
San Mateo
Regions
Citywide, Countywide
Cross Streets
E Grand Ave
Zip
94080
Notice of Exemption
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, § 15301
Reasons for Exemption
Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, sect. 15301 provides that projects which consist of operation, repair, maintenance, permitting or minor alterations of existing public or private structures, facilities, mechanical equipment and which involve negligible or no expansion of use beyond that existing at the time are categorically exempt from CEQA. This project involves operation and minor alterations consisting of equipment installation at a private existing facility, with no or negligible expansion of capacity. The existing central heat pump plant will be retrofitted with low-GWP equipment. This installation is at an existing, developed urban site on land that is not environmentally sensitive.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, § 15302
Reasons for Exemption
Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, sect. 15302 exempts projects that consist of the replacement or reconstruction of existing utility systems and facilities involving negligible or no expansion of capacity. This project involves replacing and retrofitting an existing heat pump plant.
Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, § 15306
Reasons for Exemption
In addition, this project fits within Cal. Code Regs., tit. 14, sect. 15306 because it involves basic data collection which will not result in a serious or major disturbance to an environmental resource. All applicable health, safety, and environmental rules and regulations would be followed; activities would be conducted by appropriately trained and qualified technicians and researchers. Energy use and
emissions of existing facilities would generally be lowered by project implementation.
The project will not impact an environmental resource of hazardous or critical concern where designated, precisely mapped, and officially adopted pursuant to law by federal, state, or local agencies; does not involve any cumulative impacts of successive projects of the same type in the same place that might be considered significant; does not involve unusual circumstances that might have a significant effect on the environment; will not result in damage to scenic resources within a highway officially designated as a state scenic highway; the project site is not included on any list compiled pursuant to Government Code section 65962.5; and the project will not cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resource. Therefore, none of the exceptions to categorical exemptions listed in CEQA Guidelines section 15300.2 apply to this project, and this project will not have a significant effect on the environment.
Attachments
Notice of Exemption
Disclaimer: The Governor’s Office of Planning and Research (OPR) accepts no responsibility for the content or accessibility of these documents. To obtain an attachment in a different format, 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. For more information, please visit OPR’s Accessibility Site.