Progress Energy Carolinas to retire two coal-fired power
plants Oct. 1
RALEIGH, N.C., Sept. 28, 2012 /PRNewswire
As announced in July, Progress Energy Carolinas, a subsidiary
of Duke Energy (NYSE: DUK), on Oct. 1 will officially retire two
coal-fired power plants, including the utility's first
coal-fueled facility built in 1923.
The utility will close the Cape Fear power plant, near
Moncure, N.C., and the H.B. Robinson Unit 1 power plant, near
Hartsville, S.C., as part of its ongoing fleet-modernization
program.
Closing older, less-efficient coal plants and replacing them
with state-of-the-art natural gas-fueled power plants helps
ensure continued grid reliability, reduces air emissions and
water usage, and offers new economic development opportunities.
"For decades, these two power plants have helped us provide
the region with safe, reliable and affordable electricity," said
Jeff Lyash, Duke Energy's executive vice president of energy
supply. "This legacy reflects the exceptional dedication of
hundreds of current and former employees."
The 316-megawatt (MW) Cape Fear plant, located in Chatham
County on the Cape Fear River, has been a vital part of meeting
the needs of Progress Energy Carolinas' customers since 1923.
A total of six coal-fired units were located at the site, the
last two completed in 1956 and 1958. At that time, the Cape Fear
plant was the largest power plant on the utility's system.
Two of Cape Fear's six coal-fired units were retired in 1977
and two in 2011. The last two units will close Oct. 1. Along
with the coal units, one of four oil-fueled combustion-turbine
(CT) units on the site is also being retired Oct. 1. The
remaining three CT units will remain open, though their
operation will generally be limited to periods of high
electricity demand.
Meanwhile, the 177-MW H.B. Robinson Unit 1 power plant near
Hartsville, S.C., in Darlington County, is Progress Energy
Carolinas' only coal-fired power plant in South Carolina. It has
been a key part of meeting the needs of the utility's customers
since it began commercial operation in 1960.
The Robinson coal unit retirement does not affect the 724-MW
Robinson nuclear plant on the same site, which is licensed for
operation through July 2030. Nor does it affect Progress Energy
Carolinas' other major power plant in South Carolina--the 790-MW
Darlington County Plant, which is located in the same county as
the Robinson plant and includes 13 combustion-turbine units
fueled by natural gas and oil.
Progress Energy Carolinas has been working to minimize
employee impacts resulting from its power plant retirements. All
employees at Cape Fear and Robinson Unit 1 electing to stay with
the company have been able to do so through the company's
redeployment efforts.
Of the normal combined complement of 113 employees at these
two power plants, 79 have been placed in other positions in the
company, 27 are retiring through the company's voluntary
severance program associated with Progress Energy's merger with
Duke Energy, and seven left the company prior to the merger.
In addition to Cape Fear and Robinson Unit 1, Progress Energy
Carolinas retired its coal-fired W.H. Weatherspoon power plant
near Lumberton, N.C., in 2011, and the H.F. Lee power plant near
Goldsboro, N.C., in September. Progress Energy Carolinas will
close another coal-fired power plant, the L.V. Sutton Plant near
Wilmington, N.C., in late 2013.
Once the retirements are complete, Progress Energy Carolinas
will have retired all of its coal-fired power plants that do not
have advanced environmental controls. This represents more than
1,600 MW, or approximately one-third of its coal-generating
fleet.
In addition to retiring older, small coal plants, the
utility's fleet-modernization strategy also includes building
new natural gas-fueled combined-cycle units.
A new, 920-MW natural gas-fueled combined-cycle power plant
is under construction at the H.F. Lee power plant site near
Goldsboro, N.C. That project, including a gas pipeline
extension, is expected to begin commercial operation in January
2013.
The company is also building a 625-MW gas-fired power plant
at its Sutton site. Commercial operation, including a gas
pipeline extension, is expected by the end of 2013.
The utility also added 614 MW of natural gas-fueled
generation at its Sherwood H. Smith Jr. Energy Complex near
Hamlet, N.C., in 2011.
"We're closing one chapter, but opening another as we
continue to invest in our power system to meet the needs of our
customers," Lyash said. "I'm proud of the teams working on these
projects and I look forward to our continued commitment to the
communities we serve."
Progress Energy Carolinas' plan to replace a third of its
coal-fueled generating capacity with natural gas-fueled
combined-cycle facilities will yield significant environmental
benefits.
Natural gas plants generally emit up to 50 percent less
carbon dioxide than do coal-fired power plants, up to 95 percent
less nitrogen oxide and virtually no sulfur dioxide or mercury.
In addition, the new power plants will use less water than
the current coal-fired units, and eliminate the production of
coal ash and its byproducts.
About Progress Energy Carolinas
Progress Energy Carolinas, a subsidiary of Duke Energy,
provides electricity and related services to nearly 1.5 million
customers in North Carolina and South Carolina. The company is
headquartered in Raleigh, N.C., and maintains a diverse
generation fleet of more than 12,200 megawatts in owned
capacity. PEC serves a territory encompassing more than 34,000
square miles, including the cities of Raleigh, Wilmington and
Asheville in North Carolina and Florence and Sumter in South
Carolina. More information is available at
www.progress-energy.com.
Media Contact: Lauren Bradford
Contact our 24-hour media line: 800-559-DUKE (3853)
Follow Progress Energy Carolinas on Twitter:
www.twitter.com/ProgEnergyNC_SC
Follow Progress Energy Carolinas on Facebook:
www.facebook.com/ProgressEnergyCarolinas
SOURCE Duke Energy
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