top of page
Will the construction work impact my life?
Any disruption for residents will likely center around the generating station proposed near the Grand Avenue and Santa Rosa intersection. We will bore the tunnel from Decker Canyon down through the mountainside, using the excavated material to build the Decker Canyon dam, eliminating the need for trucking away most of the material, also ensuring minimal use of Ortega Highway. We’ll build a temporary coffer dam in the lake to excavate and construct the inlet/outlet on the lake bottom. Bluewater will work with residents and local authorities to develop an acceptable Transportation Plan that will mitigate local impact and ensure safe operations.
Why is this the ideal site location?
Lake Elsinore and its adjacent mountain range provide the unique geographical topography required to construct a pumped storage facility. The sharp difference in elevation between the two neighboring waterbodies allows the gravitational force to power turbine generators when water is transferred from the upper to the lower reservoir. Lake Elsinore will act as the lower reservoir while a proposed dam in Decker Canyon will create the upper reservoir. The topography required for pumped storage is rare, which is one of the primary limiting factors of constructing more pumped storage plants worldwide.
What is pumped storage?
Pumped storage is a tried and true “renewable” technology that has been in use since the 1920’s and remains the most efficient form of large-scale energy storage, with a lifespan over 100 years. This technology bridges the gap between energy production and energy consumption for every-day users and utilizes a greater amount of electricity generated through other renewable energy resources. It features a two-way system that stores surplus energy as potential energy in the form of water in an upper reservoir, pumped from a lower reservoir. During peak energy consumption, stored potential energy is released from the upper reservoir, flowing down through the tunnel to a turbine to generate electricity. During off-peak usage, lower-cost electricity from the grid is used to reverse the turbines and pump the water back uphill.
Why is energy storage important to California?
Energy storage is critical to the utilization of intermittent renewable energy sources such as solar and wind. It enables us to store oversupply of solar and wind during periods it would otherwise be offline or wasted and apply it to the grid when it is most needed. One of the most important benefits energy storage provides is that it can be activated quickly to allow load balancing to facilitate grid stability and reliability, as well as to help prevent blackouts and other issues. On September 10, 2018, California passed Senate Bill No. 100 Chapter 312. This bill amends California’s renewable energy production goals for 100% of electricity to come from renewable energy sources by December 31, 2045. Pumped storage is the most efficient method for storing large scale energy, comprising more than 96% of energy storage worldwide.
What employment and business opportunities will be available?
The Bluewater project will create approximately 600 direct union jobs over the 4 to 5 year construction phase, and require further subcontractors in support of construction. That equates to about five million-person hours of employment. There will also be indirect employment and business opportunities in the Temescal Valley during and after construction. Once built, Bluewater will require 20 to 30 permanent employees for the operation and maintenance of the plant and facilities.
How will the project help the communities electrical reliability? What’s the benefit to Lake Elsinore residents?
SCE customers will benefit, including local Riverside County residents whom SCE supplies. California needs more energy storage to maintain reliability as it transitions to greater amounts of renewable generation, which is mandated by law. Flexible storage like Bluewater is needed to help manage this more complex electric grid. Helping local authorities raise water levels and improve the health of the lake through oxygenation and enhanced water treatment will mitigate harmful algae blooms, maintain the viability of the lake for the longer term, and support the local economy. The project will provide five million person-hours of union construction work, and indirect jobs in the hospitality and service sectors. As well, Bluewater will pay local and state taxes and fees and contribute through community partnerships.
What new facilities will be required?
One of the great benefits of pumped storage is that its infrastructure is mostly underground, including the penstock tunnel and a below-ground power station housing the turbines. These facilities are located between the two reservoirs. We will also be installing the 8-mile transmission line below ground where practical. The underground installations will minimize the aesthetic impact. The upper reservoir and the substation are the principal above-ground facilities.
Will the transmission lines be underground?
Bluewater has eliminated the longer distance above ground high voltage lines and instead replaced this with a short 8.5-mile lower voltage 230 kV interconnect that will be buried where practical, through an urban route on the outskirts of Lake Elsinore.
How will the project improve Lake Elsinore's water quality?
Bluewater has agreed to purchase billions of gallons (15,000 acre-feet) of high-quality State Water Project (SWP) water through EVMWD after the project application is approved. This will increase the lake water level about three feet above what it would otherwise be, and stabilize the lake at a target of 1,240 feet above sea level. We will also purchase water annually to mitigate evaporation and will store additional water in reserve in the upper reservoir. Bluewater won’t harm boaters, humans, fish or recreation on the lake as the inlet/outlet will be on the lake bottom with only a 6 to 12-inch variation in water levels due to ongoing operations.
Will the project impact the use of the lake?
The Bluewater project operations will not pose any harm to boaters, humans, fish or recreation on the lake. In fact, daily operations will be difficult to see. Bluewater infrastructure is located deep below the surface. Recreational users will benefit with more stable water levels, improved water quality, and less frequent algae blooms. The project will also ensure the long-term viability of the lake by maintaining water levels and water quality.
Do you have water and property rights for the project?
When the FERC approves our Final License Application, Bluewater will be granted use of the water for project operation.
Will the project with all of the state and federal environmental laws?
Previous project proponents did a significant amount of work to keep environmental studies and consultation with relevant agencies fresh in accordance with a 2015 directive from FERC allowing Nevada Hydro to update and refile relevant information from the previous Project 11858 application as part of a license application for this updated project. However new studies will be completed as required by FERC. The results of these studies will be available online as they are submitted to FERC through the FERC project document library.
How will the water level of Lake Elsinore fluctuate due to operation of Bluewater?
It’s anticipated that the water level will fluctuate between 6 to 12 inches per day. Bluewater has agreed to supply additional water to Lake Elsinore to mitigate evaporative losses each year. The water will be purchased by EVMWD who agreed to source and deliver upon availability.
What public safety measures is Bluewater taking?
The project will only require an 8-mile 230 kV interconnection with SCE, at the location of the proposed Alberhill Substation, routed on the outskirts of Lake Elsinore. Bluewater will attempt to bury the transmission line where practical, which will eliminate any potential fire hazard or aesthetic impacts.
What sets pumped storage apart from other emerging storage technologies?
Storing intermittent renewable energy on a large scale poses many challenges including efficiency, feasibility, cost, size and impact. The existing and emerging technologies vary drastically in their benefits and drawbacks. Although batteries have made significant advancement in efficiency, they are still not commercially practical for large scale long duration high-capacity storage due to waste, lifespan and maintenance costs. Other technologies such as compressed air have less desirable efficiency and are not yet proven in reliability. Pumped storage has stood the test of time because it provides the very rare combination of energy storage efficiency at a large scale, with relatively simple technologies. This, in addition to the long lifespan and minimal impact is why pumped storage remains the most prominent energy storage technology in the world today.
Who is going to pay for the construction of the project?
100% of construction funding will be provided by private investors.
bottom of page