News
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California Sets New Record for Solar Power Generation of Over 2,000 MW
LCG, June 14, 2013--The California Independent System Operator (ISO) announced that a new record was set for solar power output of 2,071 MW at 12:59 p.m. on June 07, 2013. According to the ISO, the peak demand was approximately 36,000 MW, and solar generation provided more than five percent of the demand for electricity.
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New Mexico Public Regulatory Commission Approves PPA for 50-MW Solar Project
LCG, June 7, 2013--First Solar, Inc. announced yesterday that the New Mexico Public Regulatory Commission approved a 25-year power purchase agreement (PPA) between First Solar and El Paso Electric Company for the entire power output from the proposed Macho Springs Solar Power Plant to be located on State Trust Land in Luna County.
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Industry News
New Jersey Coal Plant to Repower with Natural Gas
LCG, June 22, 2012--The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced yesterday that the coal-fired, B.L. England Generating Station will close one coal unit and switch two other units to natural gas to reduce air emissions, the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) said in a release Thursday.
The owner of the 450-MW facility, RC Cape May Holdings, LLC, will, under the terms of an Administrative Consent Order with the DEP, repower a coal-burning unit to a combined-cycle facility fueled by natural gas. A third, oil-burning unit will be converted to use natural gas. A Senior Vice President for RC Cape May Holdings LLC stated the that, with the combined-cycle plant, the overall station capacity of the plant could increase to about 570 MW.
"The Christie administration is committed to improving the quality of air in New Jersey, taking a tough stance on holding in-state and out-of-state power plants accountable for reducing air pollution in New Jersey," Commissioner Martin said. "This agreement will bring one of the oldest plants here in New Jersey into the 21st century, and keep it there for a long time to come with extremely low emissions."
RC Cape May acquired the plant in 2007. The agreement with the DEP resolves alleged violations of the federal Clean Air Act that occurred when the plant was under the ownership of Atlantic Electric, Conectiv and Pepco Holdings Co. The agreement calls for the cessation of operation of coal-fired Unit 1 by fall 2013. Unit 2, a coal-fired unit, and Unit 3, an oil-fired, peaking unit, are to be converted to natural gas by May 2016. Unit 2 is scheduled to close by May 2015 to allow for the conversion. Furthermore, RC Cape May must make interim operational changes, including limiting operations, to reduce pollution during the period leading up to the conversion shutdown.
The conversion from coal to natural gas is a consideration for asset owners of many electric generating stations. Late last month, South Carolina Electric & Gas (SCE&G) released its Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) that included plans to retire up to six coal-fired electric generating units at three sites by the end of 2018. Prior to retirement, SCE&G plans to convert the units from coal to natural gas (without installing any new, combined cycle facilities). Thus the converted units would only operate on natural gas for roughly five years. These retirements are a response primarily to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and new regulations.
The fuel conversion is driven by the opportunity to use low-priced natural gas and the cost to comply with the EPA's new regulations, such as the utility Mercury and Air Toxics Standard (MATS) Rule, Clean Water Act (CWA) 316(b), Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) regulation on Coal Combustion Residuals (CCRs), and the updated National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) recently released a public brief that includes results that, due to the EPA's new and pending regulations, approximately 60 GW of coal capacity may be either retired or refueled with natural gas, depending on a number of market-specific factors.
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