Keystone Generating Station

The Keystone Generating Station is a 1,711 MW baseload coal-powered plant located on roughly 1500 acres at coord|40|39|36|N|79|20|27|W|display=inline,title, near Crooked Creek in Shelocta, Pennsylvania. The facility consists of two steam turbines, which began commercial operation in 1967 and 1968, [cite web
title = Existing Electric Generating Units in the United States, 2006
work =
publisher = Energy Information Administration, U.S. Department of Energy
year = 2006
url = http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/page/capacity/capacity.html
format = Excel
doi =
accessdate = 2008-07-14] and four cooling towers. The main turbines run on steam produced by twin 850 MW boilers, each as tall as a 14-story building. The plant uses in excess of 4 million tons of coal a year. The plant ranks among the best in the US in terms of availability among coal plants of the same size.

Since the plant's initial commissioning, several environmental control systems have either been upgraded or installed. These include modifications to the electrostatic precipitators, the addition of an ammonia flue gas conditioning system to improve precipitator performance, and a low/NOx burner system to reduce the oxides of nitrogen (NOx) emissions. A Selective Catalytic Reactor (SCR) has been installed which further reduces the NOx emissions. The plant has a continuous emissions monitoring system in the stack which must adhere to very rigid accuracy and reliability requirements established by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

A consortium of mid-atlantic power companies owns the plant. PSEG Fossil owns a 22.84 percent share (391 net MW with peaker), while Reliant Resources, operates it. The plant is basically a twin of the Conemaugh Generating Station, also partially owned by PSEG Fossil.

Key Facts: Location: Shelocta, PA MW: 1,711 Fuel: Coal Commercial Operation: Unit 1: 1967, Unit 2: 1968 Ownership: 22.84% PSEG Fossil

Owners

(partial list of 78.26%)
*Public Service Enterprise Group: 22.84% or 391 Megawatts
*Constellation Energy: 20.91% or 358 Megawatts
*Reliant Energy (operator): 16% or 274 Megawatts
*PPL Montour LLC: 12.34% or 211 Megawatts
*NRG Energy: 3.7% or 63 Megawatts
*Duquesne Light Holdings: 2.47% or 42.3 Megawatts (this part was previously owned by Atlantic City Electric)

Emissions

The station is the #4 emitter of mercury in the USA, emitting convert|1800|lb|kg of mercury in 2001.

References

ee also

*Conemaugh Generating Station

External links

* [http://www.pseg.com/companies/fossil/overview.jsp PSEG Fossil]
* [http://www.pennenvironment.org/PE.asp?id2=17640 National ranking]
* [http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/03339/247565.stm Article on mercury emissions]
* [http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/jun2004/2004-06-03-10.asp Article]
* [http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/tribune-review/trib/newssummary/print_330557.html Another article]