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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09.17.25 Board Correspondence - FW_ Project Operations Compliance Report submitted in FERC P-2107-000 by Pacific Gas and Electric CompanyFrom:Clerk of the Board To:Clerk of the Board; Connelly, Bill; Cook, Holly; Cook, Robin; Durfee, Peter; Jessee, Meegan; Kimmelshue, Tod; Kitts, Melissa; Krater, Sharleen; Lee, Lewis; Little, Melissa; Pickett, Andy; Ritter, Tami; Stephens, Brad J.; Sweeney, Kathleen; Teeter, Doug; Zepeda, Elizabeth Cc:Loeser, Kamie; Nuzum, Danielle Subject:Board Correspondence - FW: Project Operations Compliance Report submitted in FERC P-2107-000 by Pacific Gas and Electric Company Date:Wednesday, September 17, 2025 9:22:54 AM Please see Board Correspondence - -----Original Message----- From: 'FERC eSubscription' <eSubscription@ferc.gov> Sent: Wednesday, September 17, 2025 9:15 AM Subject: Project Operations Compliance Report submitted in FERC P-2107-000 by Pacific Gas and Electric Company .ATTENTION: This message originated from outside Butte County. Please exercise judgment before opening attachments, clicking on links, or replying.. On 9/17/2025, the following Filing was submitted to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), Washington D.C.: Filer: Pacific Gas and Electric Company Docket(s): P-2107-000 Lead Applicant: Pacific Gas and Electric Company Filing Type: Project Operations Compliance Report Description: Pacific Gas and Electric Company submits responses to address FERC's 08/18/2025 additional information request re corrections to Exhibit A, G-1, and G-6 re the Poe Hydroelectric Project under P-2107. 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Box 28209 Oakland, CA 94604 September 17, 2025 Via Electronic Submittal (E-File) Debbie-Anne Reese, Secretary Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Division of Hydropower Administration and Compliance 888 First Street, NE Washington, D.C. 20426 RE: Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC No. 2107-CA Corrections to Exhibit A, G-1, and G-6 Responses to Additional Information Request Dear Secretary Reese: This letter presents Pacific Gas and Electric Company’s (PG&E) responses to address the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s (FERC) additional information request (AIR) for PG&E’s corrections to Exhibit A, G-1, and G-6 for the Poe Hydroelectric Project, Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) No. 2107 . PG&E received FERC’s comments in a letter dated August 18, 2025. PG&E's responses to FERC’s AIR are enclosed with this letter as (Enclosure 1). The updated Exhibit A is provided as (Enclosures 2 and 3), respectively If you have questions or comments regarding this matter, please contact Anna Urias, license coordinator for PG&E, at (530) 201-1961. Sincerely, Chadwick McCready Senior License Coordinator Enclosures: 1. AIR Response 2. Redlined Exhibit A 3. Clean Exhibit A Document Accession #: 20250917-5054 Filed Date: 09/17/2025 ENCLOSURE 1 Document Accession #: 20250917-5054 Filed Date: 09/17/2025 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC No. 2107-CA Responses to FERC Additional Information Request Regarding PG&E’s corrections to Exhibit A, G-1, and G-6 In a letter to Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) dated August 18, 2025, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) provided an Additional Information Request (AIR) regarding PG&E’s corrections to Exhibit A, G-1, and G-6 for the Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC No. 2107-CA. For reference, FERC’s comments are copied below, followed by followed by PG&E's responses (in italics). C-1: Section A.5 of the Exhibit A states that the U.S. Forest Service (Forest Service) manages 303 acres of National Forest System lands within the project boundary. Additionally, the total Forest Service land listed in the accompanying table is 303.29 acres. However, the updated table in Exhibit G-1 indicates that only 159.71 acres of Forest Service land is within the project boundary. Please address this discrepancy and revise the Exhibit A and/or Exhibit G, as needed, to accurately reflect the total acre s of federal lands within the project boundary. PG&E has revised Exhibit A to accurately reflect the 160 acres Forest Service land within the project boundary. To increase clarity, PG&E has edited the table in Section A.6 that displayed federal land acreages of Townships, Range, and Sections in Exhibits. PG&E removed Exhibit references from the table due to the overlapping nature of the Exhibit maps. This has caused confusion for acreage calculations in the past because there is no method to determine which Exhibit overlapping acreages should be listed in. Instead, PG&E provides total federal land acreages by Ownership on Exhibit G-1 to minimize confusion. C-2: Exhibit G-1 indicates that the total project boundary land increased by 3.89 acres (from 301.14 to 305.03 acres). However, your filing did not state that any additional land was added to the project boundary. Instead, it references the need to correct lan d ownership and accurately reflect the location of Poe Beach. Please clarify if any new land was added to the project boundary that was not previously approved by the license. Please take this opportunity to review all the Exhibit G drawings for the project to confirm no additional revisions are needed. There were no boundary changes between the 2019 and 2025 filings, and no additional land was added. The overall project area did increase in the Exhibit G filings, from 301.14 acres in 2019 to 305.03 acres in 2025, an increase of 3.89 acres. However, the only change was to the Ownership under the Poe Beach area. PG&E speculates that the 3.89 acre increase may have been the result of GIS dataset updates between the Document Accession #: 20250917-5054 Filed Date: 09/17/2025 2019 filing and the 2025 filing. Subtle differences in GIS data can lead to minor changes in ownership calculations and overall project acreages. No additional revisions are needed in Exhibit G. Document Accession #: 20250917-5054 Filed Date: 09/17/2025 ENCLOSURE 2 Document Accession #: 20250917-5054 Filed Date: 09/17/2025 A-i Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC No. 2107 © 20032025, Pacific Gas and Electric Company EXHIBIT A DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT Table of Contents Section Title Page A.1 PROJECT STRUCTURES......................................................... A-2 A.1.1 POE DIVERSION DAM............................................................ A-2 A.1.2 BIG BEND DAM....................................................................... A-2 A.1.3 INTAKE STRUCTURE AND TUNNEL................................... A-2 A.1.4 PENSTOCK................................................................................. A-2 A.1.5 POWERHOUSE AND SWITCHY ARD ................................... A-3 A.2 PROJECT IMPOUNDMENTS .................................................. A-3 A.3 PROJECT ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT ................................. A-3 A-4 TRANSMISSION LINES .......................................................... A-4 A.5 APPURTENANT ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT................... A-4 A.6 LANDS OF THE UNITED STATES......................................... A-5 TABLE A-1 TABLES Title Page Poe Project Impoundments ..................................................... A-3 Document Accession #: 20250917-5054 Filed Date: 09/17/2025 A-1 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC No. 2107 © 20032025, Pacific Gas and Electric Company This page left blank Document Accession #: 20250917-5054 Filed Date: 09/17/2025 A-1 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC No. 2107 © 20032025, Pacific Gas and Electric Company I 8CFR § 4.51(b) Exhibit A is a description of the project. This exhibit need not include information on project works maintained and operated by the US. Army Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Reclamation, or any other department or agency of the United States, except for any project works that are proposed to be altered or modified. If the project includes more than one dam with associated facilities, each dam and the associated component parts must be described together as a discrete development. The Description for each development must contain: (I)The physical composition, dimensions, and general configuration of any dams, spillways, penstocks, powerhouses, tailraces, or other structures, whether existing or proposed, to be included as part of the project; (2)The normal maximum surface area and normal maximum surface elevation (mean sea level), gross storage capacity, and usable storage capacity of any impoundments to be included as part of the project; (3)The number, type, and rated capacity of any turbines or generators, whether existing or proposed, to be included as part of the project; (4)The number, length, voltage, and interconnections of any primary transmission lines, whether existing or proposed, to be included as part of the project (see 16 USC 796(1 I)); (5)The specifications of any additional mechanical, electrical, and transmission equipment appurtenant to the project; and (6)All lands of the United States that are enclosed within the project boundary described under paragraph (h) of this section (Exhibit G), identified and tabulated by legal subdivisions of a public land survey of the affected area or, in the absence of a public land survey, by the best available legal description. The tabulation must show the total acreage of the lands of the United States within the project boundary. EXHIBIT A DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT The Licensee's Poe Project (FERC No. 2107) is located on the North Fork Feather River (NFFR), near Pulga, California. Water is diverted from the NFFR at Poe Reservoir and transported through a tunnel and penstocks to Poe Powerhouse, approximately 7.6 miles downstream. The primary Poe Project features are described below. Document Accession #: 20250917-5054 Filed Date: 09/17/2025 A-2 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC No. 2107 © 20032025, Pacific Gas and Electric Company A.1 PROJECT STRUCTURES A.1.1 Poe Diversion Dam Poe Diversion Dam is a concrete gravity dam with a crest length of about 400 feet, a maximum height of about 60 feet; and a spillway crest elevation of 1,350.2 USGS. Spill gates occupy much of the length of the dam and include four 50 ft. wide by 41 ft. high radial flood gates, a 20 ft. wide by 7 ft. high small radial gate, and a small skimmer gate that is no longer used. A.1.2 Big Bend Dam Big Bend Dam is a concrete gravity dam located downstream of Poe Powerhouse. It has a crest length of 370 feet and a maximum height of 61 feet. The dam maintains the tailwater elevation for Poe Powerhouse and dampens downstream flow changes during start-up of Poe Powerhouse. This dam is located within the project boundary for the California Department of Water Resource's Lake Oroville (FERC No. 2100). A.1.3 Intake Structure and Tunnel A concrete intake structure is located on the shore of Poe Reservoir. The pressure tunnel is about 19 feet in diameter with a total length about 33,000 feet. A differential surge chamber is located near the downstream end of the tunnel. A.1.4 Penstock The penstock is a steel underground penstock, about 1,000 feet rn length and approximately 14 feet in diameter. Document Accession #: 20250917-5054 Filed Date: 09/17/2025 A-3 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC No. 2107 © 20032025, Pacific Gas and Electric Company A.1.5 Powerhouse and Switchyard The powerhouse is a reinforced concrete structure 175 feet long and 114 feet wide. An outdoor switchyard is located adjacent to the powerhouse. A.2 PROJECT IMPOUNDMENTS The surface area, elevation, and storage capacity of the Poe Project impoundments are shown in Table A-1. Table A-1 • *Elevations are USGS datum (USGS datum= PG&E datum- 19.53 ft.) ** Upon decommissioning of Big Ben Powerhouse, a notch was cut in Big Bend Dam to provide re-regulation of flows from Poe Powerhouse and limit the rate of rise in flow below the dam. A.3 PROJECT ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT The prime movers at Poe Powerhouse consist of two vertical shaft, Francis type turbines rated at 76,000 horsepower, 421 feet net head, 1,750 cfs and 225 rpm. Each turbine has an 84 inch pressure regulatory/synchronous bypass and a 138 inch butterfly type turbine shutoff valve. Each Turbine is directly connected to a vertical shaft synchronous generator. The two generators are each rated at 79,350 kVA, 13.8 kV, 3,320 amperes, 0.90 power factor and 225 rpm. Each generator has a direct-connected amplidyne exciter rated at 285 kW, 250 volts and 1,140 amperes. Normal total power output from Poe Poe Pro ecti mpoundments Normal Normal Maximum Maximum Water Water Surface Gross Storage Usable Storage Project Surface Area Elevation (Feet)* Capacity Capacity lmpoundment (Acres) (Acre-Ft.) (Acre-Ft.) Poe Reservoir 53 1,391.2 1,203 470 Big Bend Dam (Poe Afterbay) 42 905 ** ** Document Accession #: 20250917-5054 Filed Date: 09/17/2025 A-4 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC No. 2107 © 20032025, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Powerhouse is 120 MW. Project features in the switchyard include two 3-phase 69,000 kVA transformers and two 230 kV circuit breakers. The breakers connects the two 230 kV transformer banks to the 230 kV transmission bus. A third circuit breaker in the switchyard acts as a transmission bus tie and is a non-project transmission facility. Disconnect and bypass switches are provided for each of the circuit breakers. A.4 TRANSMISSION LINES No transmission facilities are contained within the Project. The power generated at Poe Powerhouse is delivered into the Rock Creek - Rio Oso No. 1 230 kV transmission line. This line loops into the Poe switchyard and is part of the interconnect transmission grid controlled by the California Independent System Operator. A.5 APPURTENANT ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT There are no additional mechanical, electrical or transmission equipment appurtentant to the Project. Document Accession #: 20250917-5054 Filed Date: 09/17/2025 A-5 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC No. 2107 © 20252003, Pacific Gas and Electric Company A.65 LANDS OF THE UNITED STATES Of the 313 305 acres of land within the project boundary, Licensee owns 157 134 acres. This acreage will increase with the addition of Big Bend Reservoir. Private holdings comprise 12 9 acres. The USFS manages 144 160 acres of National Forest System (NFS) lands within the Project Boundary. The State owns 2 acres of land within the project boundary. Exhibit Township and Range Sections USFS Acres Exhibit G-2 Exhibit G-3 T23 N, RS E T23 N, R5 E T22N, R5 E 27,28,29,32,3 32 5,7,8,18, 19, 30, 31 55.52 6.86 · 81.21 PLSS Township / Range* Section USFS Acres 23N / 05E 28 39.7 32 22.3 33 5.4 22N / 05E 05 13.3 08 11.5 18 25.9 19 12 30 29.6 Total 159.7 *Mount Diablo Formatted: Font: 12 pt Formatted: Centered Formatted Table Formatted: Font: 12 pt Formatted: Centered Formatted: Font: 12 pt Formatted: Centered Formatted: Font: 12 pt Formatted: Centered Formatted: Font: 12 pt Formatted: Centered Formatted: Font: 12 pt Formatted: Centered Formatted: Font: 12 pt Formatted: Centered Formatted: Font: 12 pt Formatted: Centered Formatted: Font: 12 pt Formatted: Centered Formatted: Font: 12 pt Formatted: Font: 12 pt Formatted: Indent: Left: 1.25" Document Accession #: 20250917-5054 Filed Date: 09/17/2025 ENCLOSURE 3 Document Accession #: 20250917-5054 Filed Date: 09/17/2025 A-i Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC No. 2107 © 2025, Pacific Gas and Electric Company EXHIBIT A DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT Table of Contents Section Title Page A.1 PROJECT STRUCTURES......................................................... A-2 A.1.1 POE DIVERSION DAM............................................................ A-2 A.1.2 BIG BEND DAM....................................................................... A-2 A.1.3 INTAKE STRUCTURE AND TUNNEL................................... A-2 A.1.4 PENSTOCK................................................................................. A-2 A.1.5 POWERHOUSE AND SWITCHY ARD ................................... A-3 A.2 PROJECT IMPOUNDMENTS .................................................. A-3 A.3 PROJECT ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT ................................. A-3 A-4 TRANSMISSION LINES .......................................................... A-4 A.5 APPURTENANT ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT................... A-4 A.6 LANDS OF THE UNITED STATES......................................... A-5 TABLE A-1 TABLES Title Page Poe Project Impoundments ..................................................... A-3 Document Accession #: 20250917-5054 Filed Date: 09/17/2025 A-ii Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC No. 2107 © 2025, Pacific Gas and Electric Company This page left blank Document Accession #: 20250917-5054 Filed Date: 09/17/2025 A-1 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC No. 2107 © 2025, Pacific Gas and Electric Company I 8CFR § 4.51(b) Exhibit A is a description of the project. This exhibit need not include information on project works maintained and operated by the US. Army Corps of Engineers, the Bureau of Reclamation, or any other department or agency of the United States, except for any project works that are proposed to be altered or modified. If the project includes more than one dam with associated facilities, each dam and the associated component parts must be described together as a discrete development. The Description for each development must contain: (I)The physical composition, dimensions, and general configuration of any dams, spillways, penstocks, powerhouses, tailraces, or other structures, whether existing or proposed, to be included as part of the project; (2)The normal maximum surface area and normal maximum surface elevation (mean sea level), gross storage capacity, and usable storage capacity of any impoundments to be included as part of the project; (3)The number, type, and rated capacity of any turbines or generators, whether existing or proposed, to be included as part of the project; (4)The number, length, voltage, and interconnections of any primary transmission lines, whether existing or proposed, to be included as part of the project (see 16 USC 796(1 I)); (5)The specifications of any additional mechanical, electrical, and transmission equipment appurtenant to the project; and (6)All lands of the United States that are enclosed within the project boundary described under paragraph (h) of this section (Exhibit G), identified and tabulated by legal subdivisions of a public land survey of the affected area or, in the absence of a public land survey, by the best available legal description. The tabulation must show the total acreage of the lands of the United States within the project boundary. EXHIBIT A DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT The Licensee's Poe Project (FERC No. 2107) is located on the North Fork Feather River (NFFR), near Pulga, California. Water is diverted from the NFFR at Poe Reservoir and transported through a tunnel and penstocks to Poe Powerhouse, approximately 7.6 miles downstream. The primary Poe Project features are described below. Document Accession #: 20250917-5054 Filed Date: 09/17/2025 A-2 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC No. 2107 © 2025, Pacific Gas and Electric Company A.1 PROJECT STRUCTURES A.1.1 Poe Diversion Dam Poe Diversion Dam is a concrete gravity dam with a crest length of about 400 feet, a maximum height of about 60 feet; and a spillway crest elevation of 1,350.2 USGS. Spill gates occupy much of the length of the dam and include four 50 ft. wide by 41 ft. high radial flood gates, a 20 ft. wide by 7 ft. high small radial gate, and a small skimmer gate that is no longer used. A.1.2 Big Bend Dam Big Bend Dam is a concrete gravity dam located downstream of Poe Powerhouse. It has a crest length of 370 feet and a maximum height of 61 feet. The dam maintains the tailwater elevation for Poe Powerhouse and dampens downstream flow changes during start-up of Poe Powerhouse. This dam is located within the project boundary for the California Department of Water Resource's Lake Oroville (FERC No. 2100). A.1.3 Intake Structure and Tunnel A concrete intake structure is located on the shore of Poe Reservoir. The pressure tunnel is about 19 feet in diameter with a total length about 33,000 feet. A differential surge chamber is located near the downstream end of the tunnel. A.1.4 Penstock The penstock is a steel underground penstock, about 1,000 feet rn length and approximately 14 feet in diameter. Document Accession #: 20250917-5054 Filed Date: 09/17/2025 A-3 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC No. 2107 © 2025, Pacific Gas and Electric Company A.1.5 Powerhouse and Switchyard The powerhouse is a reinforced concrete structure 175 feet long and 114 feet wide. An outdoor switchyard is located adjacent to the powerhouse. A.2 PROJECT IMPOUNDMENTS The surface area, elevation, and storage capacity of the Poe Project impoundments are shown in Table A-1. Table A-1 • *Elevations are USGS datum (USGS datum= PG&E datum- 19.53 ft.) ** Upon decommissioning of Big Ben Powerhouse, a notch was cut in Big Bend Dam to provide re-regulation of flows from Poe Powerhouse and limit the rate of rise in flow below the dam. A.3 PROJECT ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT The prime movers at Poe Powerhouse consist of two vertical shaft, Francis type turbines rated at 76,000 horsepower, 421 feet net head, 1,750 cfs and 225 rpm. Each turbine has an 84 inch pressure regulatory/synchronous bypass and a 138 inch butterfly type turbine shutoff valve. Each Turbine is directly connected to a vertical shaft synchronous generator. The two generators are each rated at 79,350 kVA, 13.8 kV, 3,320 amperes, 0.90 power factor and 225 rpm. Each generator has a direct-connected amplidyne exciter rated at 285 kW, 250 volts and 1,140 amperes. Normal total power output from Poe Poe Project Impoundments Normal Normal Maximum Maximum Water Water Surface Gross Storage Usable Storage Project Surface Area Elevation (Feet)* Capacity Capacity lmpoundment (Acres) (Acre-Ft.) (Acre-Ft.) Poe Reservoir 53 1,391.2 1,203 470 Big Bend Dam (Poe Afterbay) 42 905 ** ** Document Accession #: 20250917-5054 Filed Date: 09/17/2025 A-4 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC No. 2107 © 2025, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Powerhouse is 120 MW. Project features in the switchyard include two 3-phase 69,000 kVA transformers and two 230 kV circuit breakers. The breakers connects the two 230 kV transformer banks to the 230 kV transmission bus. A third circuit breaker in the switchyard acts as a transmission bus tie and is a non-project transmission facility. Disconnect and bypass switches are provided for each of the circuit breakers. A.4 TRANSMISSION LINES No transmission facilities are contained within the Project. The power generated at Poe Powerhouse is delivered into the Rock Creek - Rio Oso No. 1 230 kV transmission line. This line loops into the Poe switchyard and is part of the interconnect transmission grid controlled by the California Independent System Operator. A.5 APPURTENANT ADDITIONAL EQUIPMENT There are no additional mechanical, electrical or transmission equipment appurtenant to the Project. Document Accession #: 20250917-5054 Filed Date: 09/17/2025 A-5 Poe Hydroelectric Project, FERC No. 2107 © 2025, Pacific Gas and Electric Company A.6 LANDS OF THE UNITED STATES Of the 305 acres of land within the project boundary, Licensee owns 134 acres. This acreage will increase with the addition of Big Bend Reservoir. Private holdings comprise 9 acres. The USFS manages 160 acres of National Forest System (NFS) lands within the Project Boundary. The State owns 2 acres of land within the project boundary. PLSS Township / Range* Section USFS Acres 23N / 05E 28 39.7 32 22.3 33 5.4 22N / 05E 05 13.3 08 11.5 18 25.9 19 12 30 29.6 Total 159.7 *Mount Diablo Document Accession #: 20250917-5054 Filed Date: 09/17/2025 Document Content(s) PGE20250917_2107_AIR_Exhibit_Response.pdf ................................1 Document Accession #: 20250917-5054 Filed Date: 09/17/2025