This came into my email and I thought it was interesting to share, it will create a scenario where Duke Energy would shut down two older coal powered plants that were less cost effective and more harmful to the environment:
CHARLOTTE, N.C., June 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The North Carolina Utilities Commission today gave Duke Energy Carolinas the necessary regulatory approval to build two combined cycle, natural gas-fired generating units to serve its customers.
Regulators approved the company's request for Certificates of Public Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) to add two 620-megawatt combined cycle, natural gas-fired units at two existing facilities -- Buck Steam Station in Rowan County and Dan River Steam Station in Rockingham County.
"Customers trust that Duke Energy will meet their needs -- supplying the power they rely on in a way that is both affordable and clean," said Ellen Ruff, president of Duke Energy Carolinas. "These projects are part of our long-term plan to continue delivering on the promises we've made to customers while modernizing our fleet."
The company will be ready to begin construction at the Buck facility once it receives the necessary air permit from North Carolina. Construction at Dan River would follow. The new Buck unit would be in operation as early as the summer of 2010. The plan includes retiring two older, less efficient coal units at each facility.
Both projects employ state-of-the art environmental control technology to minimize plant emissions. These controls, in combination with the retirement of older coal-fired units at both facilities, will result in a net reduction of environmental emissions of NOX and SO2 at the sites.
The projects will use cooling towers to minimize the impact on the Yadkin and Dan Rivers. The use of cooling towers will also minimize potential generation curtailments during drought conditions.
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