A Kentucky electrical cooperative plans to construct new pure gas-fired items, and convert a few of its coal-fired items to burn pure fuel, as a part of an enlargement of its energy technology fleet. East Kentucky Energy Cooperative (EKPC) additionally has obtained the go-ahead from state regulators to construct two new solar energy services because it seeks so as to add 757 MW of recent renewable power sources.
EKPC not too long ago introduced it desires so as to add a brand new 745-MW pure fuel mixed cycle unit at Cooper Station in Pulaski County. Cooper Station has operated because the Sixties as a two-unit, coal-fired energy station with 344 MW of capability. The utility additionally stated it plans to transform the coal-fired Unit 2 at Cooper to burn pure fuel.
EKPC additionally plans to construct a brand new 214-MW gas-fired energy plant close to Liberty in Casey County. That plant, on a 100-acre website, would characteristic 12 pure gas-fueled engine/generator units (gensets), with the flexibility to operate as a peaker plant throughout occasions of peak demand for energy. The gensets might rapidly ramp up and down relying on the demand for electrical energy, and likewise can be out there to supply energy during times of decrease manufacturing from the utility’s solar energy installations. EKPC stated that facility is predicted to come back on-line by late 2028.
Convert Coal Models at 1.3-GW Station to Burn Fuel
The utility additionally plans to transform 4 coal-fired items on the 1,300-MW Spurlock Station in Maysville in Mason County to burn pure fuel. The utility in a current information launch stated that changing items on the Cooper and Spurlock stations to pure fuel would assist EKPC “guarantee continued compliance with the U.S. Environmental Safety Company’s greenhouse fuel rule and shield its most reliable electric-generating sources.” The utility stated that with out the conversions, the coal-fired items must shut by 2032. EKPC stated, “The co-firing tasks will shield practically half of EKPC’s present producing capability whereas lowering carbon dioxide emissions.”
The items at Spurlock have been commissioned in 1977, 1981, 2005, and 2009.
The utility stated its plans for brand new technology come after EKPC up to now two winters has set peak demand information throughout excessive chilly occasions, with giant quantities of electrical energy used for heating. The utility additionally stated the brand new unit at Cooper will help the regional transmission grid in southern Kentucky.
“EKPC is blazing a daring path to make sure dependable, cost-competitive and sustainable electrical energy for
rural Kentucky in coming many years,” stated Anthony “Tony” Campbell, president and CEO of EKPC, in a current information launch. EKPC supplies electrical energy to 16 electrical cooperatives that serve 1.1 million Kentucky residents in 89 counties. “EKPC is constructing for the long run, defending dependable vegetation, hedging in opposition to excessive power prices and lowering greenhouse fuel emissions,” stated Campbell.
The Kentucky Public Service Fee in late December granted the utility Certificates of Public Comfort and Necessity for the development of two proposed solar energy services: the 96-MW Northern Bobwhite Photo voltaic Undertaking in Marion County, north of Lebanon, and the 40-MW Bluegrass Plains Photo voltaic Undertaking in Fayette County.
“Over the subsequent few years, EKPC will take steps to satisfy Kentucky’s power wants for many years to
come,” stated Don Mosier, the utility’s COO and government vice chairman, in a current information launch. “We’re taking a complete method that safeguards reliability and cost-competitiveness, whereas boosting sustainability. Better fleet range means entry to low-cost power when it’s out there, together with dependable, versatile energy vegetation to maintain electrical energy flowing when it’s wanted probably the most.”
EKPC has a aim to scale back its emissions of carbon dioxide emissions by 35% by 2035.
—Darrell Proctor is a senior editor for POWER.
