# Russell City Energy Center

CAISO Natural Gas Fired Combined Cycle · https://askthegrid.com/assets/facilities/russell-city-energy-center

Russell City Energy Center is a natural gas-fired power facility with 655 MW of EIA-reported nameplate capacity in Alameda County, California, registered as EIA Plant ID 56467. Calpine, LLC is the public owner or developer; Russell City Energy Company LLC is the registered plant entity or operator. The plant's generating configuration is natural-gas-fired, wet-cooled combined-cycle plant with two Siemens Westinghouse F-class combustion-turbine generators, two heat-recovery steam generators, and one condensing steam-turbine generator. Commercial operation began on August 8, 2013. Its grid role is dispatchable combined-cycle generation; it historically supported CAISO black-start service, but is no longer designated as a Black Start resource.

## Key facts

- Technology: Natural Gas Fired Combined Cycle
- Power capacity: 655 MW
- Operating status: operating

## Grid and market context

- ISO/RTO: CAISO
- Balancing authority: California Independent System Operator (CISO)

## Source-backed facts

- Owner logo domain: calpine.com — Combined Cycle - Calpine · confidence: medium
- Owner logo domain: calpine.com — Russell City Energy Center | California Energy Commission · confidence: medium
- Identifiers: [{"value":"56467","system":"EIA plant ID"},{"value":"CAISO","system":"ISO/RTO"},{"value":"RUSCTY_2_UNITS","system":"CAISO resource ID"},{"value":"35304","system":"CAISO physical generator ID"},{"value":"01-AFC-07","system":"California Energy Commission docket"},{"value":"01-AFC-07C","system":"California Energy Commission modification docket"},{"value":"ER19-2800-000","system":"FERC docket"}] — Cross-Reference Table · confidence: medium
- Identifiers: [{"value":"56467","system":"EIA plant ID"},{"value":"CAISO","system":"ISO/RTO"},{"value":"RUSCTY_2_UNITS","system":"CAISO resource ID"},{"value":"35304","system":"CAISO physical generator ID"},{"value":"01-AFC-07","system":"California Energy Commission docket"},{"value":"01-AFC-07C","system":"California Energy Commission modification docket"},{"value":"ER19-2800-000","system":"FERC docket"}] — Resource category and phase · confidence: medium
- Identifiers: [{"value":"56467","system":"EIA plant ID"},{"value":"CAISO","system":"ISO/RTO"},{"value":"RUSCTY_2_UNITS","system":"CAISO resource ID"},{"value":"35304","system":"CAISO physical generator ID"},{"value":"01-AFC-07","system":"California Energy Commission docket"},{"value":"01-AFC-07C","system":"California Energy Commission modification docket"},{"value":"ER19-2800-000","system":"FERC docket"}] — Physical Resource List Used During 2020 and 2024 Local... · confidence: medium
- Owner name: Calpine, LLC — Russell City Energy Center | California Energy Commission · confidence: medium
- Description: Russell City Energy Center is a natural-gas-fired, wet-cooled combined-cycle generating facility in Hayward, Alameda County. The California Energy Commission describes the facility as 600 MW and states that commercial operation began on August 8, 2013; an EIA plant record lists 655 MW. The project is identified with Calpine, LLC as owner and is interconnected with PG&E transmission facilities in the CAISO San Francisco Bay Area. — Source · confidence: high
- Canonical name: Russell City Energy Center — Russell City Energy Center | California Energy Commission · confidence: high
- Identifiers.0: {"value":"56467","system":"EIA plant ID"} — Cross-Reference Table · confidence: high
- Identifiers.2: {"value":"RUSCTY_2_UNITS","system":"CAISO resource ID"} — Resource category and phase · confidence: high
- Identifiers.3: {"value":"35304","system":"CAISO physical generator ID"} — Physical Resource List Used During 2020 and 2024 Local... · confidence: medium
- Identifiers.4: {"value":"01-AFC-07","system":"California Energy Commission docket"} — Russell City Energy Center | California Energy Commission · confidence: high
- Parties.0: {"relationship":"Owner","name":"Calpine, LLC","official_url":"https://www.calpine.com"} — Russell City Energy Center | California Energy Commission · confidence: high
- Parties.1: {"relationship":"Project company and operator","name":"Russell City Energy Company, LLC","official_url":null} — Source · confidence: medium
- Parties.2: {"relationship":"Operator / parent company","name":"Calpine Corporation","official_url":"https://www.calpine.com"} — Source · confidence: medium
- Parties.5: {"relationship":"Engineering, procurement, and construction contractor","name":"Bechtel","official_url":"https://www.bechtel.com"} — Russell City Energy Center · confidence: high
- Parties.6: {"relationship":"Gas turbine OEM","name":"Siemens Westinghouse","official_url":"https://www.siemens-energy.com"} — Russell City Energy Center · confidence: medium
- Parties.7: {"relationship":"Steam turbine OEM","name":"General Electric","official_url":"https://www.ge.com"} — Russell City Energy Center · confidence: high
- Parties.8: {"relationship":"Historical equity owner / investor","name":"GE Energy Financial Services","official_url":"https://www.ge.com"} — GE Energy Financial Services, Calpine Begin Operations at Gas-Fired Power Plant in Calif. | GE News · confidence: high
- Unit configuration: Natural-gas-fired, wet-cooled combined-cycle plant with two Siemens Westinghouse F-class combustion-turbine generators, two heat-recovery steam generators, and one condensing steam-turbine generator. — Russell City Energy Center | California Energy Commission · confidence: high
- Commercial operation date: 2013-08-08 — Russell City Energy Center | California Energy Commission · confidence: high
- Construction scope: Approximately 600 MW natural-gas-fired, wet-cooled combined-cycle facility comprising two Siemens Westinghouse F-class combustion-turbine generators (W501FD3), two heat-recovery steam generators, one condensing steam-turbine generator (GE D11), a de-aerating surface condenser, a mechanical-draft hybrid wet/dry cooling tower, and support equipment. The facility also has an approximately 6–10 MW lithium-ion battery energy storage system installed for CAISO black-start service; the BESS is designed to start either of the two gas turbines. — Russell City Energy Center | California Energy Commission · confidence: medium
- Construction scope: Approximately 600 MW natural-gas-fired, wet-cooled combined-cycle facility comprising two Siemens Westinghouse F-class combustion-turbine generators (W501FD3), two heat-recovery steam generators, one condensing steam-turbine generator (GE D11), a de-aerating surface condenser, a mechanical-draft hybrid wet/dry cooling tower, and support equipment. The facility also has an approximately 6–10 MW lithium-ion battery energy storage system installed for CAISO black-start service; the BESS is designed to start either of the two gas turbines. — Russell City Energy Center · confidence: medium
- Construction scope: Approximately 600 MW natural-gas-fired, wet-cooled combined-cycle facility comprising two Siemens Westinghouse F-class combustion-turbine generators (W501FD3), two heat-recovery steam generators, one condensing steam-turbine generator (GE D11), a de-aerating surface condenser, a mechanical-draft hybrid wet/dry cooling tower, and support equipment. The facility also has an approximately 6–10 MW lithium-ion battery energy storage system installed for CAISO black-start service; the BESS is designed to start either of the two gas turbines. — Source · confidence: medium
- Product url: https://www.siemens-energy.com/global/en/home/products-services/product/sgt6-5000f.html — SGT6-5000F Heavy-duty gas turbine (60 Hz) · confidence: medium
- Manufacturer domain: siemens-energy.com — SGT6-5000F Heavy-duty gas turbine (60 Hz) · confidence: medium
- Equipment models.2: {"manufacturer_domain":"cicgroup.com","product_url":"https://cicgroup.com/nooter-eriksen/heat-recovery-steam-generators-hrsgs/","count":2,"unit_mw":null,"name":"Nooter/Eriksen heat-recovery steam generator (HRSG)"} — Heat Recovery Steam Generators - HRSGs - Nooter Eriksen · confidence: medium
- Timeline.2: {"event":"CEC ownership transfer approval","date":"2007-08-06","detail":"The CEC approved transfer of ownership from Calpine Corporation to Russell City Energy Company, LLC."} — Russell City Energy Center | California Energy Commission · confidence: high
- Timeline.3: {"event":"Construction began","date":"2010-10","detail":"Russell City began construction in October 2010."} — Russell City Energy Co. v. City of Hayward :: 2017 :: California Courts of Appeal Decisions :: California Case Law :: California Law :: U.S. Law :: Justia · confidence: high
- Timeline.4: {"event":"Construction financing","date":"2011-06-27","detail":"Calpine and GE Energy Financial Services obtained an $844.5 million non-recourse credit facility for construction; the construction loan was structured to convert to a 10-year term loan at commercial operation."} — Russell City combined-cycle plant gets construction loan · confidence: medium
- Timeline.6: {"event":"Black-start battery approved","date":"2019-02-20","detail":"The CEC approved installation of an approximately 6-to-10-MW battery energy storage system to provide CAISO-selected black-start service."} — Russell City Energy Center | California Energy Commission · confidence: high
- Timeline.10: {"event":"Corrective actions before combined-cycle return","date":"2022-04-26","detail":"The CEC approved corrective actions identified in its root-cause gap analysis and required their completion before return to combined-cycle operations."} — Russell City Energy Center | California Energy Commission · confidence: high
- Timeline.11: {"event":"Portfolio-level Calpine acquisition","date":"2026-01-07","detail":"Constellation completed its acquisition of Calpine from Energy Capital Partners. This was a corporate portfolio transaction, not a disclosed Russell City-specific sale."} — Constellation Completes Calpine Transaction, Powering... · confidence: high
- Timeline.11: {"event":"Portfolio-level Calpine acquisition","date":"2026-01-07","detail":"Constellation completed its acquisition of Calpine from Energy Capital Partners. This was a corporate portfolio transaction, not a disclosed Russell City-specific sale."} — Constellation to Acquire Calpine; Creates America's Leading... · confidence: high
- Commercial parties.4: {"relationship":"Historical equity investor and seller","name":"GE Energy Financial Services","detail":"Acquired a project interest from Calpine in 2006 and sold a 25% stake in Russell City Energy Center to Calpine in February 2020.","official_url":"https://www.ge.com"} — Calpine Corp wholly-owns 615 MW Russell City Energy Center i... | Energy Finance & Investment · confidence: high
- Commercial parties.5: {"relationship":"Portfolio acquirer","name":"Constellation Energy Corporation","detail":"Completed the acquisition of Calpine from Energy Capital Partners in January 2026; the transaction encompassed Calpine's portfolio rather than a separately disclosed Russell City sale.","official_url":"https://www.constellationenergy.com"} — Constellation Completes Calpine Transaction, Powering... · confidence: high
- Commercial parties.6: {"relationship":"Portfolio seller","name":"Energy Capital Partners","detail":"Seller of Calpine Corporation to Constellation in the portfolio transaction completed in January 2026.","official_url":"https://www.ecpgp.com"} — Constellation Completes Calpine Transaction, Powering... · confidence: high
- Commercial parties.6: {"relationship":"Portfolio seller","name":"Energy Capital Partners","detail":"Seller of Calpine Corporation to Constellation in the portfolio transaction completed in January 2026.","official_url":"https://www.ecpgp.com"} — Constellation to Acquire Calpine; Creates America's Leading... · confidence: high
- Commercial parties.7: {"relationship":"ISO/RTO and black-start counterparty","name":"California Independent System Operator Corporation","detail":"Selected Russell City to provide black-start service and entered into the related black-start agreement with Russell City Energy Company, LLC.","official_url":"https://www.caiso.com"} — DOCKETED · confidence: high
- Commercial parties.9: {"relationship":"Engineering, procurement, and construction contractor","name":"Bechtel","detail":"Served as EPC contractor for the combined-cycle facility, described by Bechtel as a 620-MW plant near the eastern shore of San Francisco Bay.","official_url":"https://www.bechtel.com"} — Russell City Energy Center - Bechtel · confidence: high
- Commercial parties.14: {"relationship":"Construction-financing arranger","name":"MUFG Power & Utilities Group","detail":"Jointly arranged the $844.5 million construction and term-loan facility obtained in 2011.","official_url":"https://www.mufg.jp"} — Russell City combined-cycle plant gets construction loan · confidence: high
- Commercial parties.15: {"relationship":"Construction-financing arranger","name":"ING Capital LLC","detail":"Jointly arranged the $844.5 million Russell City construction credit facility.","official_url":"https://www.ing.com"} — Russell City combined-cycle plant gets construction loan · confidence: high
- Commercial parties.16: {"relationship":"Construction-financing arranger","name":"Lloyds Bank Corporate Markets","detail":"Jointly arranged the $844.5 million Russell City construction credit facility.","official_url":"https://www.lloydsbankinggroup.com"} — Russell City combined-cycle plant gets construction loan · confidence: high
- Commercial parties.17: {"relationship":"Construction-financing arranger","name":"BMO Capital Markets","detail":"Jointly arranged the $844.5 million Russell City construction credit facility.","official_url":"https://www.bmo.com"} — Russell City combined-cycle plant gets construction loan · confidence: high
- Commercial parties.18: {"relationship":"Construction-financing arranger","name":"CoBank, ACB","detail":"Jointly arranged the $844.5 million Russell City construction credit facility.","official_url":"https://www.cobank.com"} — Russell City combined-cycle plant gets construction loan · confidence: high
- Later sale or transfer: On October 2, 2006, Calpine completed the transfer of a 35% interest in Russell City Energy Company, LLC to ASC, retaining 65%; GE’s contemporaneous announcement identified the buyer as GE Energy Financial Services. On August 6, 2007, the California Energy Commission approved the ownership change from Calpine Corporation to Russell City Energy Company, LLC. On January 28, 2020, Calpine acquired the remaining 25% noncontrolling interest previously held by a third party for approximately $49 million; transaction reporting identified the seller as GE Energy Financial Services. — Source · confidence: medium
- Later sale or transfer: On October 2, 2006, Calpine completed the transfer of a 35% interest in Russell City Energy Company, LLC to ASC, retaining 65%; GE’s contemporaneous announcement identified the buyer as GE Energy Financial Services. On August 6, 2007, the California Energy Commission approved the ownership change from Calpine Corporation to Russell City Energy Company, LLC. On January 28, 2020, Calpine acquired the remaining 25% noncontrolling interest previously held by a third party for approximately $49 million; transaction reporting identified the seller as GE Energy Financial Services. — Calpine Receives Court Approval to Sell an Interest in Its Russell City Energy Center to GE Energy Financial Services | GE News · confidence: medium
- Later sale or transfer: On October 2, 2006, Calpine completed the transfer of a 35% interest in Russell City Energy Company, LLC to ASC, retaining 65%; GE’s contemporaneous announcement identified the buyer as GE Energy Financial Services. On August 6, 2007, the California Energy Commission approved the ownership change from Calpine Corporation to Russell City Energy Company, LLC. On January 28, 2020, Calpine acquired the remaining 25% noncontrolling interest previously held by a third party for approximately $49 million; transaction reporting identified the seller as GE Energy Financial Services. — Russell City Energy Center | California Energy Commission · confidence: medium
- Later sale or transfer: On October 2, 2006, Calpine completed the transfer of a 35% interest in Russell City Energy Company, LLC to ASC, retaining 65%; GE’s contemporaneous announcement identified the buyer as GE Energy Financial Services. On August 6, 2007, the California Energy Commission approved the ownership change from Calpine Corporation to Russell City Energy Company, LLC. On January 28, 2020, Calpine acquired the remaining 25% noncontrolling interest previously held by a third party for approximately $49 million; transaction reporting identified the seller as GE Energy Financial Services. — GE sells 25% stake of 615 MW Russell City Energy Center in H... | Energy Finance & Investment · confidence: medium

## Timeline

- 2002-09-11 — CEC certification
  The California Energy Commission certified the Russell City Energy Center project under docket 01-AFC-07.
  Source: Russell City Energy Center | California Energy Commission (https://www.energy.ca.gov/powerplant/combined-cycle/russell-city-energy-center)
- 2006-10-02 — Predecessor ownership sale and project restructuring
  Calpine completed the sale of a 35% interest in Russell City Energy Company, LLC to Aircraft Services Corporation, an affiliate of General Electric Capital Corporation, after a U.S. Bankruptcy Court auction. The project assets were described as valued at approximately $81 million; Aircraft Services agreed to provide approximately $44 million of capital funding and a $37 million letter of credit.
  Source: Source (https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/916457/000089161807000155/f27583e10vk.htm)
- 2007-08-06 — CEC ownership transfer approval
  The CEC approved transfer of ownership from Calpine Corporation to Russell City Energy Company, LLC.
  Source: Russell City Energy Center | California Energy Commission (https://www.energy.ca.gov/powerplant/combined-cycle/russell-city-energy-center)
- 2011-06-27 — Construction financing
  Calpine and GE Energy Financial Services obtained an $844.5 million non-recourse credit facility for construction; the construction loan was structured to convert to a 10-year term loan at commercial operation.
  Source: Russell City combined-cycle plant gets construction loan (https://www.power-eng.com/operations-maintenance/russell-city-combined-cycle-plant-gets-construction-loan)
- 2013-08-08 — Commercial operation
  The facility began commercial operation.
  Source: Russell City Energy Center | California Energy Commission (https://www.energy.ca.gov/powerplant/combined-cycle/russell-city-energy-center)
- 2019-02-20 — Black-start battery approved
  The CEC approved installation of an approximately 6-to-10-MW battery energy storage system to provide CAISO-selected black-start service.
  Source: Russell City Energy Center | California Energy Commission (https://www.energy.ca.gov/powerplant/combined-cycle/russell-city-energy-center)
- 2021-07-15 — Temporary simple-cycle authorization
  The CEC approved temporary safety modifications allowing the plant to operate in simple-cycle mode while steam-turbine condenser repairs were carried out.
  Source: Russell City Energy Center | California Energy Commission (https://www.energy.ca.gov/powerplant/combined-cycle/russell-city-energy-center)
- 2022-04-26 — Corrective actions before combined-cycle return
  The CEC approved corrective actions identified in its root-cause gap analysis and required their completion before return to combined-cycle operations.
  Source: Russell City Energy Center | California Energy Commission (https://www.energy.ca.gov/powerplant/combined-cycle/russell-city-energy-center)

## Sources

- [Combined Cycle - Calpine](https://www.calpine.com/clean-and-reliable-power/our-assets/clean-natural-gas/combined-cycle/) — calpine.com · tier other
- [Russell City Energy Center | California Energy Commission](https://www.energy.ca.gov/powerplant/combined-cycle/russell-city-energy-center) — energy.ca.gov · tier regulatory
- [Cross-Reference Table](https://www.energy.ca.gov/sites/default/files/2025-04/Energy_Commission_Power_Plant_ID_Cross_Reference_Table_2024.xlsx) — energy.ca.gov · tier regulatory
- [Resource category and phase](https://bpmcm.caiso.com/Lists/PRR%20Details/Attachments/1067/Resource%20category%20and%20phase_by%20resource%20ID_CAISO.XLSX) — bpmcm.caiso.com · tier other
- [Physical Resource List Used During 2020 and 2024 Local ...](https://www.caiso.com/documents/physicalresourcelistusedduring2020ans2024localcapacitytechnicalstudies-basedon2019netqualifyingcapacity.xls) — caiso.com · tier other
- [Source](https://www.caiso.com/documents/nov6-2019-letterorderacceptingblackstartagreement-russellcityenergyco-calpine-blackstartagreement-er19-2800.pdf) — caiso.com · tier other
- [Russell City Energy Center](https://www.hayward-ca.gov/sites/default/files/documents/GA2019_01_RusselCityPowerPlantAuditReport.pdf) — hayward-ca.gov · tier regulatory
- [Source](https://www.caiso.com/documents/oct3-2019-comments-support-russellcityenergycenterblackstartagreement-er19-2800.pdf) — caiso.com · tier other
- [Russell City Energy Center - Bechtel](https://www.bechtel.com/projects/russell-city-energy-center/) — bechtel.com · tier other
- [GE Energy Financial Services, Calpine Begin Operations at Gas-Fired Power Plant in Calif. | GE News](https://www.ge.com/news/press-releases/ge-energy-financial-services-calpine-begin-operations-gas-fired-power-plant-calif) — ge.com · tier other
- [Source](https://www.baaqmd.gov/~/media/files/engineering/public-notices/2018/29348/29348_12_07_2018_draft-evaluation_russell_black_start_project_02.pdf?la=en) — baaqmd.gov · tier regulatory
- [SGT6-5000F Heavy-duty gas turbine (60 Hz)](https://www.siemens-energy.com/global/en/home/products-services/product/sgt6-5000f.html) — siemens-energy.com · tier other
- [Heat Recovery Steam Generators - HRSGs - Nooter Eriksen](https://cicgroup.com/nooter-eriksen/heat-recovery-steam-generators-hrsgs/) — cicgroup.com · tier other
- [DOCKETED](https://efiling.energy.ca.gov/GetDocument.aspx?tn=222836&DocumentContentId=978) — efiling.energy.ca.gov · tier regulatory
- [Calpine Corp wholly-owns 615 MW Russell City Energy Center i... | Energy Finance & Investment](https://ippjournal.com/update/calpine-corp-wholly-owns-615-mw-russell-city-energy-center-in-hayward-with-25-stake-acquisition) — ippjournal.com · tier other
- [Source](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/916457/000089161807000155/f27583e10vk.htm) — sec.gov · tier regulatory
- [Constellation to Acquire Calpine; Creates America's Leading ...](https://www.ecpgp.com/about/news-and-insights/press-releases/2025/constellation-to-acquire-calpine-creates-americas-leading-producer-of-clean-and-reliable-energy-to-meet-growing-demand-for-customers-and-communities) — ecpgp.com · tier other
- [Constellation Completes Calpine Transaction, Powering ...](https://www.constellationenergy.com/news/2026/01/constellation-completes-calpine-transaction-powering-americas-clean-energy-future.html) — constellationenergy.com · tier other
- [Russell City combined-cycle plant gets construction loan](https://www.power-eng.com/operations-maintenance/russell-city-combined-cycle-plant-gets-construction-loan) — power-eng.com · tier other
- [Russell City Energy Co. v. City of Hayward :: 2017 :: California Courts of Appeal Decisions :: California Case Law :: California Law :: U.S. Law :: Justia](https://law.justia.com/cases/california/court-of-appeal/2017/a144749.html) — law.justia.com · tier other
- [Source](https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/916457/000119312509039559/d10k.htm) — sec.gov · tier regulatory
- [Calpine Receives Court Approval to Sell an Interest in Its Russell City Energy Center to GE Energy Financial Services | GE News](https://www.ge.com/news/press-releases/calpine-receives-court-approval-sell-interest-its-russell-city-energy-center-ge) — ge.com · tier other
- [GE sells 25% stake of 615 MW Russell City Energy Center in H... | Energy Finance & Investment](https://ippjournal.com/transaction/ge-sells-25-stake-of-615-mw-russell-city-energy-center-in-hayward-to-calpine-corp) — ippjournal.com · tier other
- [2026 NQC List](https://www.caiso.com/documents/net-qualifying-capacity-report-for-compliance-year-2026.xlsx) — caiso.com · tier other
- [Table of Operating Power Plants and Projects Under Construction as of: Friday, February 6, 2026](https://www.calpine.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/CPN-PORT-1_Q12026.pdf) — calpine.com · tier other
- [Resource category and phase](https://www.caiso.com/documents/resourcecategoryandphaseallparticipatingresourceids.xlsx) — caiso.com · tier other
- [Source](https://www.caiso.com/documents/2330c.pdf) — caiso.com · tier other

## Data quality

- Reported capacity varies by source: the CEC lists 600 MW, Bechtel describes a 620-MW facility, and the EIA plant record lists 655 MW. the sources do not explain the intervening ownership change. No retirement or repowering event is identified in the reviewed project records. The 2021 simple-cycle authorization was temporary and related to repairs, not a retirement or repowering. The approximately $16.4 billion value announced for the Calpine transaction was a portfolio-level Constellation acquisition value, not Russell City-specific sale consideration or project financing.

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