SCH Number 2021020002

Project Info

Title

San Jose Data Center

Description

The San Jose Data Center SJDC or project) includes natural gas-fired generators (to provide emergency backup power) that would constitute a thermal powerplant with a generating capacity in excess of 50 megawatts (MW). The generating capacity of the backup generators would not exceed 100 MW. The California Energy Commission (CEC) has the exclusive authority to certify all thermal power plants (50 megawatts [MW] and greater) and related facilities proposed for construction in California. The Small Power Plant Exemption (SPPE) process allows applicants with facilities between 50 and 100 MW to obtain an exemption from CEC’s jurisdiction and proceed with local permitting rather than requiring CEC certification. CEC can grant an exemption if it finds that the proposed facility would not create a substantial adverse impact on the environment or energy resources. Public Resources Code section 25519(c) designates CEC as the lead agency, in accordance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), for all facilities seeking an SPPE. Microsoft Corporation (Microsoft or applicant) is seeking a Small Power Plant Exemption (SPPE) from the California Energy Commission’s (CEC) jurisdiction to proceed with local approval rather than requiring certification by the CEC for the San Jose Data Center (SJDC or project). The applicant proposes to construct and operate the project, located at 1657 Alviso-Milpitas Road in San Jose, California. The project would consist of two single-story data center buildings. To provide reliable operation of the project in the event of loss of electrical service from the local electric utility provider, Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E), the project includes 224 renewable natural gas1 (natural gas) generators each rated at 0.45 megawatt (MW) output capacity to provide electrical power to support the data center uses during utility outages, certain onsite electrical equipment interruptions or failure, and for load shedding, demand response and behind-the-meter resource adequacy ancillary services. The maximum electrical load of the project would be 99 MW, although the estimated load is 77 MW, inclusive of information technology (IT) equipment, ancillary electrical/ telecommunications equipment, and other electrical loads (administrative, heat rejection, and safety/ security). In addition, the project includes two Tier 4 diesel-powered generators (designated as administrative generators), with a 1.25 MW standby generator for the northern building and a 0.5 MW standby generator for the southern building. The project also includes an onsite 115 kilovolt (kV) substation located in the northwestern corner of the project site with two 115 kV underground electrical supply lines (approximately 0.2 mile) that would connect to PG&E’s Los Esteros Substation, located adjacent to the site. The project would require offsite linears for potable water, reclaimed water, stormwater, sanitary sewer, natural gas, and electrical. Natural gas is also proposed for comfort heating of the data center buildings.

3 documents in project