Lessons from LEAPS (500MW Facility) at EngEx 2010

Online, June 18, 2010 (Newswire.com) - EngEx 2010 attendees will learn how regulatory processes can delay approval of needed infrastructure projects that provide jobs to the local community for more than a decade during a EngEx 2010 plenary session led by Rex Wait, project director for the Lake Elsinore Advanced Pumped Storage Project (LEAPS). Wait will share LEAPS' history and challenges on Friday, July 30 as part of the three-day conference that begins on July 29 at the San Diego Convention Center.

The EngEx annual event draws thousands of professionals from the energy, water, transportation and environmental industries. "Given the scope of EngEx 2010, we look forward to sharing what we've learned with other experts," Wait said.

The LEAPS Solution

By the end of this year, Southern California power needs will exceed current capacity by 8,000 to 9,000 megawatts, requiring an additional 10 to 16 new power plants and transmission facilities to meet the shortage. First proposed in 1997, LEAPS is designed to provide Southern California with 500 MW of clean, renewable energy to meet the region's increasing demands.

If approved, LEAPS will go a long way in helping the state to avoid another energy crisis and contribute to the 2020 goal of increasing renewable energy resources by 33% under the California Renewable Portfolio Standard.

By pumping water from Lake Elsinore to the upper reservoir when demand for electricity is low, the stored water would be released during high demand periods to prevent future blackouts and energy shortages across Southern California. Once in operation, LEAPS could produce almost half of Southern California Edi-son's (SCE) current total hydroelectric capacity (1,150 MW). In addition, the facility will help manage the unpredictable production of solar and wind-generated energy by allowing the state to store energy pro-duced from the "green" sources for use when it is most needed.

The project also has the potential to fund Lake Elsinore's water quality improvements, without using ratepayer dollars, by maintaining a stable water level and increasing oxygen circulation, which helps prevent unpleasant algae blooms and fish kills.

For more than a century, hydropower facilities have served as a proven technology in providing efficient, reliable and renewable energy. Today, more than 150 hydroelectric pumped storage plants are in operation worldwide and provide over 20% of the world's energy.