CPUC Directs Edison to Fund Study of Gasification Facility
SAN FRANCISCO, February 20, 2009 - The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) today directed Southern California Edison Company to fund Phase I of a study to evaluate the feasibility of an Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle facility, which would produce low-carbon electricity by gasifying California’s non-conventional fuels (primarily petroleum coke and potentially biomass) to produce hydrogen for electric generation.
Today’s decision approves Edison’s request to establish an account to record costs for the Hydrogen Energy California (HECA) study and to record up to $30 million in costs resulting from its participation in the study with Hydrogen Energy International, LLC.
The CPUC denied Edison’s request to approve rate recovery of certain costs recorded in the account at this time, but Edison may seek recovery of the costs stemming from its participation in Phase I and Phase II of the HECA study by filing an application with the CPUC requesting.
“I encourage the other investor-owned utilities, as well as the publicly-owned utilities, to become partners in the HECA study project, and for all utilities to work together on commercializing carbon capture and storage technology,” said CPUC President Michael R. Peevey. “If California’s utilities work together, the costs and risks of this and other carbon capture projects can be shared broadly so that the benefits can be realized by all Californians. If shown to be technically feasible and commercially reasonable, the HECA facility, and potentially other generation utilizing carbon capture technology, will be resources that will advance California’s move towards reduced greenhouse gas emissions while producing reliable power.”
For more information on the CPUC, please visit www.cpuc.ca.gov.