830 MW High Desert Power Project

Victorville is fast becoming the energy center for Southern California. The award winning High Desert Power Project is just one of several large and small electric generating facilities currently in operation or under development in the city.

The High Desert Power Project was named Platts Power Magazine Power Plant of the Year because of the development team’s ability to address California’s strict and complicated permitting demands while soothing local environmental concerns. Dr. Robert Peltier, Editor in Chief of Power Magazine, said the Victorville plant was one of more than 100 worldwide nominees for an award industry insiders consider the equivalent of The Oscar.

"Although it is one of the most efficient plants in energy-starved California - it was the Inland Energys development team’s ability to get the plant built that won it the prestigious award", Peltier said. Inland Energy’s Buck Johns and Tom Barnet were the initial impetus that led to the siting and development.

The development team had to figure out ways to import water for cooling, trade air emission credits to meet local Air Quality Management District requirements and build a 32-mile natural gas pipeline. The team also created a partnership with the city to help kick-start the local economy, soothe public concerns and provide stable, inexpensive, environmentally sound power for California.