Frank E. Ratts Generating Station

Frank E. Ratts Generating Station is Indiana’s first electric cooperative power plant, located at coord|38|31|12|N|87|16|02|W|display=inline,title on the White River near Petersburg in Pike County, Indiana. It is just convert|1|mi|km downstream from a much larger coal-fired power plant AES Petersburg. Ratts Generating Station is rated to produce 250 MW of electricity with twin turbine generators that began commercial operation in 1970. [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]

Rising nine stories above the ground, the Ratts Station stands on a foundation that is an acre of concrete convert|4|ft|m thick, extending to a depth of convert|6|ft|m beneath the turbine generators and boilers. In addition to two concrete stacks, each convert|300|ft|m high, the generating station is equipped with environmental controls and monitors; these include updated precipitators for the removal of fly ash to protect the air quality.

Most of the fuel for the facility is mined within a radius of convert|20|mi|km, reducing transportation costs and contributing to the local economy.

A work force of 40 employees is responsible for the power plant’s continuous, efficient operation. Every day, the station’s equipment undergoes hundreds of checks and tests to make sure it’s operating efficiently. Regularly scheduled maintenance helps keep the operation of the power production facility running smoothly.

In addition to being a local employer, Ratts Generating station is also a major property taxpayer in Pike County.

By producing electricity with this generating station rather than continuing to purchase that power from outside sources, Hoosier Energy’s members have saved their consumers more than the original construction cost of the facility during its commercial operation.

Today, Hoosier Energy Ratts Generating Station continues to be one of the most economical steam electric generating stations in Indiana, and among the least expensive in the nation.

References

Resources

[http://www.hepn.com/jobs/ratts.asp Ratts Generating Station]