SCH Number 2023020228

Project Info

Title

Bowers Backup Generating Facility Draft Environmental Impact Report

Description

Construct a four-story 244,068 square foot data center building, including utility substation, emergency backup generating facilities, surface parking and landscaping, and utility pipeline connections on a currently developed 5.12-acre site. The Bowers Data Center (BDC) would be supplied electricity by Silicon Valley Power (SVP) through a new 72 mega volt-ampere electrical substation to be constructed immediately adjacent to the site as part of the data center. To provide greater than 99.999 percent reliability, the BDC would be supported by uninterruptible power supplied to the project during a utility outage via 32 3-megawatt (MW) Tier 4 diesel-fired emergency backup generators (the Bower Backup Generating Facility or BBGF). The maximum capacity of the BBGF would be limited to 72 MW. Project elements would also include switchgear and distribution cabling to interconnect the generator yard to the data center. The BBGF, the BDC, and related utility infrastructure, together constitute the “project” under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The CEC has the exclusive authority to certify all thermal power plants (50 MW and greater) and related facilities proposed for construction in California. Applicants proposing to construct thermal power plants between 50 and 100 MW may obtain an exemption from the CEC’s jurisdiction and proceed with local permitting rather than requiring CEC certification. Public Resources Code section 25519(c) designates the CEC as lead agency, in accordance with CEQA, for all facilities seeking an exemption. The CEC will not be approving the construction of the BBGF, only determining whether the project can be exempted from the CEC’s jurisdiction.

3 documents in project