Viewing Center: (Satellite, 16,247 photos)
Putting some nature into my Towns & Nature blog.
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| 1:17 video @ 1:16 SO. MANY. MANATEES! 😍 This morning, hundreds of manatees were cuddling together, trying to stay warm over in the discharge canal of the TECO power plant in Apollo Beach. It looks like there were other sea critters with them too. 👀 HOW TO SEE MANATEES: https://bit.ly/3WueqcM |
The natural gas ST3 is being retired just 3 years after it was started. Why did they bother to start it?
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| gem "The plant has two hydrogen capable gas turbines (GE 7HA.02) capable of burning 15-20% hydrogen and moving to 100% hydrogen by 2032 has been proposed. "On June 29, 2017, molten slag from a coal boiler killed 5 and injured 1.[9] In August 2022, Tampa Electric Company was sentenced to the maximum allowable penalty: a $500,000 fine and three years probation. The company pleaded guilty to “willfully violating” OSHA standards. "On July 26, 2010, the U.S. Department of Energy announced that it had partnered with Siemens for a pilot carbon capture and storage project at the plant." |
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| Michael, Nov 2021 |
Teco's web site is out of date. "Big Bend Power Station has four coal-fired units with a combined output of more than 1,700 megawatts. The first unit began service in 1970; the second and third generating units were added in 1973 and 1976, respectively; and Unit Four was added in 1985. A natural gas- and fuel oil-fired peaking unit was installed in 2009 to provide additional power during periods of peak demand." [TempaElectric]
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| TampaElectric-modernization The Big Bend Modernization project will install state-of-the-art combined-cycle technology and will eliminate coal as the fuel for Unit 1. We will retire Unit 2. When complete in 2023, the project will be capable of producing 1,090 MW. |
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| TampaElectric-viewing Manatees often swim in water less than six-feet deep, where underwater vegetation is most abundant. Sadly, this makes them susceptible to boat strikes. Scientists estimate there are about 6,000 manatees in Florida's waters, and they need our help! To help support Tampa Electric’s manatee rescue and research efforts, please check out our on-site Gift Shop when you visit, or shop online. |
On Jun 29, 2017, one employee and four contractors were killed while cleaning out a molten slag tank that exploded. The furnace was still running. TECO plead guilty to a criminal charge and was fined $500,000. [wfla]
To find which former CSX railroad served this plant, I had to access a rather modern topo map since all of this was swamp before the 1970s. The railroad on the right was the Atlantic Coast Line. I was surprised that they did not build the unloading loop when they added the industrial spur to the plant. I was even more surprised when it did not show up on the most recent topo that is available, 1998. I fired up Google Earth and determined that the loop was added between Mar 2009 and Apr 2010.
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| 1987 Gibsonton Quad @ 24,000 |
The facility north of the coal plant loads ships with phosphate.
"Our North America Business accounts for approximately 34% of estimated annual potash production and 74% of estimated annual production of concentrated phosphate crop nutrients in North America. We mine phosphate in Central Florida and Peru, and potash in Saskatchewan and New Mexico. With those minerals, we produce high-quality fertilizers and animal feed, then market and deliver our finished products—about half to customers in North America, and half to customers around the world, including those in all key agricultural regions." [mosaicco]
I figured it was phosphate since I've seen several photos of draglines in phosphate mines in Florida. Draglines can dig underwater so they are needed in Florida because of the high water table.
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