Special Environmental Assessment of the impacts of DOE issuing an emergency order under Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act to the Balancing Authority of Northern California (BANC) on September 4, 2022.
Office of NEPA Policy and Compliance
August 29, 2024
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On September 4, 2022, the Department of Energy (DOE) issued a 5-day emergency order under Section 202(c) of the Federal Power Act to the Balancing Authority of Northern California (BANC). On September 8, DOE issued an extension with modification until September 11, 2022. The order authorized NTT Global Data Centers, Americas, in Sacramento, California to operate as directed by BANC to prevent or mitigate potential power disruptions during stressed grid conditions caused by extreme heat, drought, and threat of wildfire. DOE’s Office of Cybersecurity, Energy Security, and Emergency Response prepared a special environmental analysis that evaluated whether any emissions during operation outside of permit limits led to exceedance of National Ambient Air Quality Standards, potential environmental justice impacts, and the robustness of community engagement plans.
For more information, see Federal Power Act Section 202(c): BANC September 2022.