Summary

The Metcalf Energy Center (MEC) site is located in North Coyote Valley, which lies between the southernmost part of urbanized San Jose and the northern edge of the city of Morgan Hill. North Coyote Valley is framed by the Santa Teresa Hills to the west, Tulare Hill to the north and the Silver Creek Hills to the northeast.

Tulare Hill buffers the facility from existing residential areas and the project's design will blend with the area's planned Campus Industrial development.

Furthermore, the project will not cause substantial unplanned growth in the area. Power generated by the project will be used primarily to sustain an existing electric power market and currently planned development.

Introduction

The Metcalf Energy Center (MEC) site is located in North Coyote Valley, which lies between the southernmost part of urbanized San Jose and the northern edge of the city of Morgan Hill. North Coyote Valley is framed by the Santa Teresa Hills to the west, Tulare Hill to the north and the Silver Creek Hills to the northeast. The valley is slated by the San Jose 2020 General Plan and the Master Development Plan and Guidelines for the North Coyote Valley Campus Industrial Area for Campus Industrial development. Currently, the immediate vicinity of the proposed MEC site contains major public utility infrastructure, such as a PG&E Substation, several transmission towers, and related underground linear facilities (e.g. natural gas lines, sewer lines, etc.).

According to the San Jose 2020 General Plan, the vision statement for San Jose's future development, the city seeks to maximize the economic potential of its land resources and balance the service demands of new development with its financial resources. When written in 1994, the San Jose 2020 General Plan expected that North Coyote Valley would add at least several thousand new jobs between 1990 and 2010. Implementing the MEC project is consistent with these goals and will help fulfill the city vision that the General Plan embodies.

As San Jose's population and economic activity continues to expand and diversify, it will place an increasingly heavy demand on utilities and urban services, such as electricity. Implementation of the MEC project provides the city with a reliable source of electricity, using advanced technology that is environmentally friendly as compared to traditional power plants.

Regulatory Requirements

The 136-acre property is partially located within San Jose and partially within Santa Clara County. The northern portion of the property is located in the county. It contains approximately 116 acres of hillside land and 10 acres of flat area. The hillside land will be maintained in perpetuity as part of the MEC project. The southern portion, an additional 10 acres of land, is located within the city limits. The Metcalf Energy Center will be located on the 20 acres of flat area.

Although the northern portion of the property is within San Jose's Urban Services Area (USA) and Sphere of Influence (SOI), it was under Santa Clara County's jurisdiction. Calpine proposed that the San Jose annex the county area into its jurisdiction. Calpine also proposed to amend the San Jose General Plan and rezone the property so that MEC is compatible with city plans, policies and zoning designations.

Land Use at the MEC Site and Surrounding Area

Land uses on the northern portion of the site included old vehicle storage (automobile junkyard), disposal of construction waste and some agricultural uses such as cattle grazing. The debris waste was removed from the site in 2001. The southern portion of the site has been used to grow field crops. Existing electric utility infrastructure, including a PG&E Substation, located northeast of the site along Metcalf Road, and several high-voltage transmission lines and towers, are major existing land uses within one mile of the proposed project site. Other existing land uses near the site include agriculture, recreation/open space and scattered residential.

Environmental Impacts

Tulare Hill buffers MEC from existing residential areas and MEC's design will blend with the area's planned Campus Industrial development. Linear facilities associated with MEC, such as the natural gas supply line, transmission line, and water supply lines, are located underground and do not conflict with existing land uses or planning designations.