Peaking units have black start capability

TAMPA BAY, FLORIDA - Tampa Electric announced that construction is complete on Bayside Units 5 and 6, two new 60-megawatt (MW) natural gas-fired peaking units at the existing H.L. Culbreath Bayside Power Station in Tampa.

The new peaking units will provide power during periods of peak customer demand in a reliable and environmentally friendly manner.

Bayside Power Station Units 5 and 6 are part of a generation project to build a total of five new peaking units that will provide power to approximately 65,000 homes. With the implementation of the two new Bayside units, the remaining three simple-cycle turbines are expected to be in commercial operation by September 2009.

Of the five new peaking units, four will be natural gas-fired and will be located on the site of Bayside Power Station. One dual-fuel (natural gas and fuel oil) unit will be located at Big Bend Power Station in Apollo Beach.

President Chuck Black said, “These two new peaking units are consistent with our commitment to provide reliable energy in an environmentally responsible and cost-effective manner.”

“As a matter of fact, we are adding these units at a time when our customers will start experiencing lower bills as a result of our recent rate case and lower fuel costs," said Black.

The new peaking units will be equipped with black start capability, which will allow power from the peaking units to be used to start the other larger generating units at each of the stations should power from the system not be readily available.

H.L. Culbreath Bayside Power Station, part of a more than $1.2 billion 10-year environmental program, is an 1,800-MW natural gas-fired power station that was built when the company retired its coal-fired Gannon Power Station.

In addition to installing the new peaking units, the company is also installing the last of its state-of-the-art selective catalytic reduction (SCR) equipment at Big Bend Power Station to further reduce the plantÂ’s emission levels, also part of the $1.2 billion environmental program. When the $330 million SCR project is completed in 2010, the approximately 1,700-MW Big Bend Station will be one of the cleanest pulverized coal power plants in the country. Of the 25 conventional coal units in Florida, the four at the Big Bend Power Station will have the most state-of-the-art environmental control technologies available.

Emissions reductions across Tampa ElectricÂ’s generating fleet have been the cornerstone of the $1.2 billion environmental commitment the company made in 1999. Compared to 1998 levels, Tampa Electric reduced overall sulfur dioxide emissions by 93 percent and nitrogen oxide emissions by 60 percent (90 percent by 2010).

By the same comparison, the company also reduced overall mercury and particulate matter emissions by more than 70 percent. These reductions, in addition to the fact that the company cut carbon dioxide emissions by 23 percent since 1998, have helped establish Tampa Electric as an industry leader in emissions reductions.

To complement and reduce the need for conventional generation, Tampa Electric continues to focus on partnering with customers to increase their energy efficiency. The company offers 12 residential and 16 commercial energy efficiency programs. Almost 370,000 customers have participated in Tampa ElectricÂ’s conservation programs to date.