During this process, we are partnering closely with Cooperative Energy’s on-site staff, who are assisting with demolition, equipment installations and other updates to accommodate the new combustion turbine. The staff will also help with startup of the new plant and take over its operation when complete. This hands-on approach by the cooperative’s active, on-site staff will provide employment during the transition while maintaining and growing the employees’ already deep knowledge of the facility.
Demolition is anticipated to conclude in the summer of 2020, with the unit firing in summer 2022 and going commercial by March 2023. When complete, the combined-cycle plant — with its advanced-class combustion turbine technology and reuse of its existing steam turbine — will be able to generate 550 MW, becoming the most efficient coal-to-gas heat recovery repower project in North America.