Semora, NC: 1966 2.6gw Duke Roxboro Power Plant and proposed replacement with two combined cycle units

(Satellite)

Bojidar 92, Dec 2016

gem

duke

Amanda Jane posted

Roxboro Station

Full steam ahead.

Duke is planning on replacing Units 1 and 4 with 1.4gw combined cycle unit in 2028 and replacing Units 2 and 3 with a second CC unit in 2030. However, new pipeline capacity would have to be built because Duke has a guaranteed supply for less than half of its current gas-fired units. And the two new gas units would require a lot more gas. Fossil gas has been found in West Virginia. Burning fossil gas does not have heavy metal emissions such as mercury, but it still emits NOx and SOx. And this new plant would be even closer to the Woodland Elementary School where "approximately 97% of students at Woodland Elementary qualify for free or reduced lunch." Alternatives to gas such as solar or wind were not considered for replacing the coal-fired units. [CleanEnergy]

SpectrumLocalNews
This article adds the buzzwords "hydrogen-capable natural gas plant." [But where would the hydrogen come from????]

hycolake
Hyco Lake was created to provide cooling water for the plant. The first two units use the lake water. The second two units use cooling towers.
"The tall chimneys you see are 800 feet tall. These are no longer used since flue gas scrubbers were installed during 2008.  The shorter, fatter chimneys that you see water vapor coming out of are now being used and are fiberglass lined."
 The gypsum plant that uses the refuse from the scrubbers to make drywall board started operation in 2011.

businessnc
"Duke wants to replace its coal operation with two hydrogen-capable, natural gas-fired plants with slightly larger capacity, starting in 2028 and 2030. It’s part of a program to close its entire N.C. coal fleet by 2035. To date, the utility has retired 31 coal units, with 15 units remaining at six plants....During the next 15 years, Duke plans to add 30.3 gigawatts of solar, wind, battery storage, and pumped hydro storage, compared with 8.9 gigawatts of natural gas capacity. That natural gas generation planned by 2038 will replace a similar amount of retired coal generation and enable the system to accommodate more than three times that amount of renewable energy and storage, according to Duke."
This article quotes several people saying that the money should be used for renewables instead of for gas. And it has comments from Duke.

This plant has the same agreement as Duke's Allen Steam Plant concerning ash pond waste. It is to be excavated and placed in doubly lined and monitored landfills. [deq]