Valley Generating Station
The Valley Steam Plant as viewed from a passing Metrolink train
Official nameValley Steam Plant
CountryUnited States
LocationSun Valley, Los Angeles, California
Coordinates34°14′39″N 118°23′33″W / 34.24417°N 118.39250°W / 34.24417; -118.39250
StatusOperational
Construction began1953 [1]
Commission date1953
Owner(s)LADWP
Operator(s)LADWP
Thermal power station
Primary fuelNatural gas
Combined cycle?Yes
Power generation
Nameplate capacity690.5 MW[2]
Annual net output1,492 GWh (2018) [2]

The Valley Generating Station is a natural gas-fired power station located in Sun Valley, Los Angeles, California.

Description

The Valley Steam Plant was constructed in 1953 by the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP) to provide electricity for Greater Los Angeles. Built on 150 acres (61 ha) in Sun Valley at cost of $80,000,000, it was powered by dual fuel (gas or oil) boilers and had four steam turbines generating a total of 512 MW.[3]

Between 2001 and 2004, the power station was modernized with the construction of two GE Frame 7FA combustion turbines, two Alstom heat recovery steam generators, and a single GE steam turbine. It was renamed the Valley Generating Station. Modernization of the then 50-year old power station was a major component of the LADWP's Integrated Resource Plan, which had been approved by the Los Angeles City Council in 2000. The project was completed on April 30, 2004.[4][5]

The site still contains the original power plant with its four tall stacks which are now decommissioned, the new power plant with two smaller stacks is located directly north of the old one.[6]

Methane leak

On August 26, 2020, the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) learned of an ongoing methane leak at the Valley Generating Station. An inspector was dispatched to the site that evening and again the next day as well as on September 2. Methane emissions were detected coming from the vents of two natural gas compressors.

In response to the leak, on August 27, compressor A, which had been leaking the most, was taken offline entirely after increasing the supply pressure and keeping compressor B on standby, reducing the methane leak by 60% as of August 28. Compressor A was disassembled and its packing seals were replaced; after repairs were completed on August 31, the rate of leakage from compressor A was significantly reduced from about 90 kg/hour to 3 to 6 kg/hour; the leak was reduced by 95% as of Tuesday September 1. Repairs to compressor B were completed on September 5 with a reduction from 60 kg/hour to 12 kg/hour.[7][8] Inspectors returned to the facility on a weekly basis and verified that the LADWP had repaired the leaking equipment.[9]

On January 7, 2021, the SCAQMD issued a Notice of Violation of Rule 3002 Section E to the LADWP for failure to maintain compressors for natural gas fueled turbines.[10][11] The LADWP currently has an emissions monitoring system at the facility and the SCAQMD is working with the LADWP to provide technical support on an additional air monitoring system to detect methane.[9]

It would later be revealed that the facility had been leaking methane gas for at least two years.[12][13] City council president Nury Martinez who represents the district where the surrounding community lies said she was "furious" at the news of the leak[14] and in November, 2020, the Los Angeles City Council voted unanimously to create a timeline to shut down the plant.[9][12] In December, the Parris Law Firm, which was behind a suit related to the 2015 Aliso Canyon gas leak, filed a class-action lawsuit on behalf of local residents against the LADWP seeking financial damages and remedies.[11]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Pacoima, Sun Valley youth are a part of a 'front-line' community affected by climate change, say local group". Daily News. 2019-09-21. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
  2. 1 2 "Electricity Data Browser - Valley (CA)". www.eia.gov. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
  3. ↑ "Early Power Generation".
  4. ↑ "Valley Generating Station Repowering". tic-inc.com. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
  5. ↑ "LADWP Completes Power Plant Upgrades; Modernized Facility Produces Less Emissions, Increases Reliability for Los Angeles". www.businesswire.com. 2005-02-02. Retrieved 2020-02-21.
  6. ↑ "Report - HPLA". historicplacesla.org. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
  7. ↑ "Valley Generating Station Update". www.ladwpnews.com. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
  8. ↑ Sutly, Nancy H.; Kendall, Andrew C.; Adams, Martin L. (2020-09-07). "Update on Valley Generating Station Methane Gas Leak" (PDF). Retrieved 2021-03-09.
  9. 1 2 3 "Valley Generating Station". www.aqmd.gov. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
  10. ↑ "Notice of Violation" (PDF). www.aqmd.gov. 2021-01-07. Retrieved 2021-03-09.
  11. 1 2 Seidman, Lila (2021-01-08). "State regulatory agency slaps LADWP with violation over methane gas leak at Sun Valley power plant". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
  12. 1 2 "L.A. City Council wants plan, timeline for closing Valley Generation Station". Daily News. 2020-11-26. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
  13. ↑ "Rep. Cardenas Demands Answers on Valley Generating Station Methane Gas Leak". NBC Los Angeles. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
  14. ↑ Martinez, Councilmember (2020-08-29). "Holding DWP Accountable for Methane Leak at Valley Generating Station". Nury Martinez. Retrieved 2021-03-10.
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