Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> <br />Great River Energy's service area stretches <br />across Minnesota, including many areas that consistently <br />have been leaders in job growth and energy usage. This <br />growth is expected to continue as will the need for <br />additional electric generating capacity. <br />To meet this need, Great River <br />Energy plans to <br />construct <br />~ Cambridge <br />~ Station, an <br />. approximately <br />170-megawatt natural <br />gas-fired power gener- <br />ation facility in Cam- <br />bridge Township, Isanti <br />County. The plant will <br />be built on a site already <br />owned by Great River <br />Energy and adjacent to <br />an existing, smaller <br />generating unit. <br />Upon approvals <br />from state and <br />federal authorities, <br />construction will begin in spring 2006. The facility will <br />start providing peaking power in spring 2007 to Great <br />River Energy's 28 member cooperatives, including East <br />Central Energy of Braham. <br />The facility will consist of a simple-cycle <br />combustion turbine. The fuel for the facility will be <br />natural gas, chosen for its low air emissions and ready <br />availability from a nearby pipeline. The fuel supply will <br />be provided on an interruptible basis, meaning the needs <br />of other, higher priority uses, such as home heating, <br />must be satisfied first. <br />Cambridge Station normally will be operated <br />during times of peak electrical demand, which generally <br />occur during periods of very high or very low <br />temperatures. In addition, Great River Energy <br /> <br /> <br />17845 East Highway 10 <br />P.O. Box 800 <br />Elk River, MN 55330-0800 <br />Phone: 763-241-2200 <br />www.GreatRiverEnergy.com <br /> <br />Building a peaking power plant <br /> <br />occasionally may be called upon to operate the facility to <br />support voltage on the area's transmission grid or for other <br />grid support functions. Great River Energy anticipates <br />Cambridge Station's total operating time will average 500 <br />to 1,000 hours a year. The majority will occur during <br />summer periods of significant air conditioner use. <br />Great River Energy plans to hire two to three full- <br />time employees to perform maintenance tasks and <br />monitor operations at the site. This staff will be <br />supplemented with operators from other locations during <br />periods of extended hot or cold weather. <br />Cambridge Station and the associated natural gas <br />line and transmission upgrades for the facility will <br />generate approximately $350,000 a year in property taxes <br />in Isanti County. <br /> <br /> <br />Cambridge Station, which will generate about <br />170 megawatts of electricity, will resemble the <br />generating unit pictured above. <br /> <br />GREAT RIVE~!.~~r. <br /> <br />1/1 9/05 <br />