Warrior Run Generating Station, owned by the AES Corporation, was a 205 megawatt cogeneration plant located south of Cumberland, Maryland, United States, at 11600 Mexico Farms Road. In addition to electric power, the plant also produced food-grade carbon dioxide.
| Warrior Run Generating Station | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Country | United States |
| Location | Allegany County, near Cumberland, Maryland |
| Coordinates | 39°35′46″N 78°44′46″W / 39.59611°N 78.74611°W |
| Status | Retired |
| Commission date | 2000 |
| Decommission date | June 1, 2024[1] |
| Owner | AES Corporation |
| Thermal power station | |
| Primary fuel | Bituminous coal |
| Cogeneration? | Yes |
| Power generation | |
| Nameplate capacity | 205 MWe |
| External links | |
| Website | aes.com |
Design and operation
editThe plant used fluidized bed combustion (FBC) technology, in which bituminous coal and finely ground limestone are injected, using air, into the boiler. Air keeps the limestone and coal suspended in a fluid-like condition. The limestone reacts with sulfur dioxide, released during combustion of the coal, removing this pollutant from the plant's emissions. With the enhanced sulfur dioxide removal due to the FBC technology, Warrior Run burned approximately 400,000 short tons (360,000 tonnes) of coal from Maryland each year, which tends to be of a higher sulfur content. During 2007, 100 percent of the coal burned at Warrior Run was mined in Maryland.[2]
The FBC boiler operated at a lower temperature compared to other coal-fired boiler technology, reducing production of nitrogen oxides. Injection of ammonia and a selective non-catalytic reduction system were also used to remove nitrogen oxides.[2] A baghouse removed particulates from the plant's air emissions.[2]
Water used by the plant was supplied by the City of Cumberland water system.[2] Fly and bottom ash from Warrior Run, which is highly alkaline due to the limestone used by the FBC boiler, was used as fill at four nearby surface coal mines.[3] The plant produces about 370,000 short tons (340,000 t) of ash each year.[3]
Warrior Run surcharge
editWarrior Run became operational on February 10, 2000. As provided by the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act of 1978, the local utility, the Potomac Edison Company, which is a unit of FirstEnergy, is required to purchase the electric output of Warrior Run at its "avoided cost" rate under a contract for thirty years. However, this "avoided cost" rate, which was determined at the time of the contract, is higher than the current wholesale price of electricity, so Potomac Edison recovers the difference in this price through a surcharge on the bills of its customers.[4] This surcharge will end in April 2030. In 2007 the Maryland Public Service Commission approved a plan permitting the Warrior Run electric output to be sold into the PJM Interconnection day-ahead wholesale market and the capacity bid into the PJM forward capacity market, with the proceeds used to reduce the surcharge.[5]
Retirement
editIn 2023, AES Corporation announced its intent to retire this coal plan in June 2024 [6] This is seen as boost to Maryland's 2007 joining of Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI) to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.[7]
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ "Western Maryland coal-burning power plant to retire in 2024, becoming state's last to announce closing". Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
- ^ a b c d Power Plant Research Program (February 2008). "Maryland Power Plants and the Environment: A Review of the Impacts of Power Plants and Transmission Lines on Maryland's Natural Resources". Maryland Department of Natural Resources. pp. 11, 68, 80. Archived from the original on 2011-07-17. Retrieved 2008-08-30.
- ^ a b Wheeler, Timothy B. (March 8, 2009). "Debate smolders over coal ash safety". Baltimore Sun. Retrieved 2009-03-10. [dead link]
- ^ "Potomac Edison Company, Form S-4, Filing Date Apr 29, 2005". secdatabase.com. Retrieved May 14, 2018.
- ^ Maryland Public Service Commission Case No. 8797, Order No. 81725 Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine (Nov. 28, 2007).
- ^ "Western Maryland coal-burning power plant to retire in 2024, becoming state's last to announce closing". Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Retrieved November 16, 2023.
- ^ "Program Design Archive". RGGI, Inc. Archived from the original on March 2, 2018. Retrieved April 20, 2018.
