Section 20. General information, electric generating facility information and documents to be included in applications for (i) electric generating facilities ...

The following information shall be provided for all proposed (i) electric generating facilities with rated capacities in excess of 50 MW and (ii) renewable energy electric generating facilities with rated capacities greater than 100 MW. As used in this rule, "renewable energy" shall have the same meaning as set forth in § 56-576 of the Code of Virginia. In addition, an applicant proposing the construction, ownership or operation of a natural gas-fired electric generating facility shall serve a copy of its application for construction of the electric generating facility upon all natural gas local distribution companies in whose certificated service territories such electric generating facility or interconnected natural gas facilities will be constructed or operated, contemporaneously with the filing of such application.

1. Legal name of the applicant as well as any trade name.

2. A description of the applicant's authorized business structure, identifying the state authorizing such structure and the date thereof, e.g., if incorporated, the state and date of incorporation; if a limited liability company, the state issuing the certificate of organization and the date thereof.

3. Name and business addresses of all principal corporate officers and directors, partners, and LLC members, as appropriate.

4. Financial information for the applicant, or principal participant or participants in the project. If the applicant or principal participant or participants is a private entity, financial information should include an analysis of the entity's financial condition and audited financial statements for the two most recent fiscal years. If the applicant or principal participant or participants is a public company, financial information should include the entity's most recent stockholder report and most recent Securities and Exchange Commission Form 10-K.

5. Prefiled testimony in support of the application.

6. A discussion of the applicant's qualifications, including:

a. A summary of other projects developed and managed by the applicant. Include location, status, and operational history.

b. A detailed description of the organizational structure of the applicant. Include the division of ownership, if applicable.

c. A description of any affiliation or affiliations with an incumbent electric utility as defined in § 56-576 of the Code of Virginia.

7. Specific information about the site for the proposed facility, including:

a. A written description of the location including identification of the city or county in which the facility will be constructed. Such description should be suitable for newspaper publication and be sufficient for identification of affected areas.

b. A description of the site, and a depiction on topographic maps of the proposed site.

c. The status of site acquisition (i.e., purchase option, ownership, etc.).

d. A description of any applicable local zoning or land use approvals required and the status of such approvals.

8. Specific information about the proposed facility, including:

a. Description of all major systems, facility configuration and expected suppliers of major components.

b. Nameplate capacity, gross dependable capacity, net dependable capacity and expected seasonal heat rates.

c. Estimated costs, and schedule for construction, testing and commercialization.

9. A description of the fuel supply arrangement for the proposed facility. The description should detail:

a. Fuel type, quality and source or sources.

b. Transportation and fuel storage arrangements for fuel delivery.

c. Identification of all new pipeline facilities, if any, needed to serve the proposed facility.

d. Ownership of any such facilities.

e. Plans for constructing such facilities.

f. The location and routing of any such facilities.

g. The size of such facilities.

h. Whether such facilities will be utilized to provide or enhance fuel supplies to other entities.

i. Identification of the pipeline or gas distribution company and the rate schedule the applicant intends to utilize in order to serve the proposed generating facility. Identification of whether the service is firm or interruptible.

j. If the applicant is to be served by firm capacity from an interstate pipeline, identification of whether the capacity is to be acquired through the construction of new facilities, via capacity that is currently unsubscribed or through capacity purchased on the secondary market.

k. If pipeline capacity is to be constructed, identification of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission docket number or any open season that has been held by the interstate pipeline.

l. If capacity is to be purchased on the secondary market, identification of the availability of secondary market capacity in the plant's market area during days that the plant intends to operate.

m. Identification of the proposed in-service date of any facilities to be constructed.

n. In general terms, description of the availability of fuel supplies required to serve the proposed facility.

10. A discussion of economic impacts (both positive and negative), of the project. The discussion should address the tax and employment implications of the project.

11. A list of other local, state or federal government agencies whose requirements must be met in connection with the construction or operation of the project and a statement of the status of the approval procedures for each of these agencies.

12. An analysis of the environmental impact of the project shall be provided sufficient to enable the commission to make the determinations required by §§ 56-46.1 and 56-580 D of the Code of Virginia. This analysis shall include, but is not limited to, the impacts on the environment and natural resources, analysis of alternatives considered, unavoidable adverse impacts, mitigation measures proposed to minimize unavoidable impacts, and any irreversible environmental changes. The information required by this subdivision shall be submitted to the Department of Environmental Quality, simultaneously with its filing with the commission, for coordination and review by state agencies responsible for environmental and natural resource protection. The information shall identify:

a. Required air permits, expected restrictions, expected emissions, rates of emissions, and any needed emissions offsets or allowances.

b. Required permits for water withdrawals, expected restrictions, the amount of water estimated to be used, the source of such water, identification of a backup source of water, if any, and identification of any facilities that need to be constructed to provide such water.

c. Required permits for water discharge and potential impacts on regional water flows.

d. Required permits related to the wetlands and an identification of any tidal and nontidal wetlands located near the proposed site and how such wetlands will be impacted by applicant's proposed facility.

e. Impact of solid and hazardous wastes on local water resources.

f. Impact on natural heritage resources, and on threatened and endangered species.

g. Erosion and sediment control measures.

h. Archaeological, historic, scenic, cultural, or architectural resources in the area.

i. Chesapeake Bay Preservation Areas designated by the locality.

j. Wildlife resources.

k. Agricultural and forest resources and federal, local, state or private parks and recreation areas.

l. Use of pesticides and herbicides.

m. Geology and mineral resources, caves, and sinkholes.

n. Transportation infrastructure.

13. A general discussion of reliability impacts including:

a. A description of transmission interconnection requirements and needed interconnection facilities.

b. A description of the potential impact of the proposed facility on the interconnected transmission system. Discussion should identify and summarize any system impact studies or proposed studies.

c. A description of anticipated services (ancillary services, re-dispatch, energy imbalance, etc.) that may be provided to any transmission service provider.

d. A discussion of existing and expected generation reserves in the region and the impact of the proposed facility on such reserves.

14. A discussion of whether the proposed facility is not contrary to the public interest. The discussion shall include, but is not limited to, an analysis of any reasonably known impacts the proposed facility may have upon reliability of service to, and rates paid by, customers of any regulated public utility for service in the Commonwealth, including water service, gas distribution service, electric distribution service, and electric transmission service.

Historical Notes

Derived from Case No. PUE900044 §I, eff. December 17, 1990; amended, Volume 18, Issue 09, eff. December 14, 2001; Volume 19, Issue 01, eff. August 21, 2002; Volume 25, Issue 10, eff. January 15, 2009.

Statutory Authority

§§ 12.1-13 and 56-265.2 and 56-580 of the Code of Virginia.