Encina Power Station
| Company type | Power generation facility |
|---|---|
| Industry | Energy |
| Founded | 1954 |
| Defunct | 2018-12-11 |
| Fate | Retired and demolished |
| Headquarters | Carlsbad , United States |
Area served | San Diego County, California |
| Owner | NRG Energy |
Encina Power Station (EPS) was a substantial electricity generation facility fueled by natural gas and oil, situated in Carlsbad, California, within San Diego County. Established in 1954, it played a vital role as a regional power provider. The plant officially stopped operating on December 11, 2018, marking its transition to "retired" status. Following a 2014 agreement involving NRG Energy, San Diego Gas & Electric (SDG&E), and the City of Carlsbad, NRG Energy committed to dismantling the site within three years after retirement. Ownership of the plant rested with NRG Energy.
Location
EPS occupied a site along the southern edge of the outer portion of Agua Hedionda Lagoon, which served as its source for once-through cooling water and was also under NRG Energy's ownership. This lagoon, linked to the ocean through tidal flows and creeks, supports a rich variety of aquatic species.
In 2015, Poseidon Resources Corp., headquartered in Connecticut, established the adjacent Carlsbad desalination plant at a cost of US$300 million. This facility delivers 50 million gallons (190,000 m³) of potable water every day, catering to roughly 100,000 residences.
NRG announced intentions to augment Encina Power Station by constructing a new 588-megawatt facility next to the existing plant. However, this proposal encountered strong political resistance from local residents and environmental advocacy groups. The City of Carlsbad issued an injunction halting construction efforts, yet by mid-2010, the project remained underway.
Following the shutdown of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) approximately 30 miles northward, city authorities approved the development of a modern power plant in January 2014. Plans by May 2014 included building a gas-fired station adjacent to Encina Power Station aimed at eventually replacing the original 400-foot smokestack. In May 2015, the Public Utilities Commission authorized changes allowing the plant to operate using natural gas, with construction scheduled to commence in 2016.
The original Encina facility ceased operations and was demolished on December 11, 2018. It was succeeded by the 530-megawatt Carlsbad Energy Center peaker plant.