East Kentucky Power Cooperative (EKPC) is beginning work on a series of projects at Spurlock Station to ensure the power plant remains in compliance with more stringent environmental rules for years to come.
Totaling over $262 million, these projects are aimed at ensuring future compliance with federal regulations related to handling and storage of coal ash and related materials, as well as handling and discharge of water at the plant.
“These projects will ensure Spurlock Station remains compliant with federal regulations and is viable for many years to come,” said Anthony “Tony” Campbell, EKPC’s President & CEO. “Spurlock Station is EKPC’s flagship power plant and it is critical for providing reliable, affordable power for more than 1 million Kentucky residents served by the 16 co-ops that own EKPC.”
Among the projects:
The systems for removing bottom ash from Units #1 and #2 will be converted to eliminate handling of ash with water. New dry handling systems for bottom ash will be installed, along with redundant dry handling systems for fly ash.
A new wastewater treatment plant will be constructed to treat water from scrubbers on Units #1 and #2.
The existing 67-acre ash pond will be closed and approximately 1.75 million cubic yards of material will be removed and placed in Spurlock Station’s ash landfill.
A 17-acre water mass balance pond will be established, along with a chemical treatment plant, to process water from various plant process flows.
New ash storage silos will be constructed.
Work will begin in early 2019 and continue until 2024. During most of the construction phase, several hundred contractors are expected to be on the plant site.
“I commend EKPC on its commitment to the environment and clean coal,” said Maysville Mayor David Cartmell. “These projects help to ensure Spurlock Station’s presence on the power grid and in the community for years to come. Investments like this one are the lifeblood of the local economy.”
“It is great news that EKPC is investing in Spurlock Station to remain a reliable and compliant electric generating facility for years to come,” said Mason County Judge-Executive Joe Pfeffer. “EKPC has certainly been an integral part of our local economy and with this announcement will continue to have a very positive economic impact for our area in the future.”
“These upgrades not only speak to the Spurlock Station’s continued viability but also underscores the importance of our interconnected economy here in Maysville,” said Owen McNeill, Economic Development Director for the Maysville-Mason County Industrial Development Authority. “The confidence to invest here spreads to additional industrial partners, such as International Paper and others who already rely on EKPC’s reliable and reasonably priced electricity. Investments such as this are noticed state-wide and nationally, as a vote of confidence in our local economy and highlight Maysville as a great place to do business.”
In addition to these projects, EKPC recently completed work to refurbish equipment that allows Spurlock Station to efficiently provide steam to the neighboring International Paper plant, which uses the steam in its production of paper products.
Spurlock Station features four generating units with capacity to produce more than 1,300 megawatts of electric power. It is EKPC’s largest power plant. The first generating unit began operation in 1977. EKPC has about 230 employees at Spurlock Station.
(provided by East Kentucky Power Cooperative)
