E. W. Brown Generating Station

The E. W. Brown Generating Station is a quad coal-fired power plant, natural gas power plant, solar power plant, and hydro electric plant owned and operated by Kentucky Utilities near Harrodsburg in Mercer County, Kentucky.

E. W. Brown Generating Station
E W Brown Generating Station viewed from KY 29
CountryUnited States
LocationMercer County, near Harrodsburg, Kentucky
Coordinates37.78°N 84.71°W / 37.78; -84.71
StatusOperational
Commission dateUnit 1: 1957
Unit 2: 1963
Unit 3: 1971
Solar facility: 2016
Decommission dateUnits 1–2: 2019
Owner(s)Kentucky Utilities
Thermal power station
Primary fuelBituminous coal
Cooling sourceDix River
Power generation
Nameplate capacity464 MW
Capacity factor25.2% (solar)

Coal power

Brown has three coal-fired units: Unit 1 with a capacity of 107-megawatts (MW), Unit 2 with 168 MW, and Unit 3 with 413 MW.[1] KU settled with the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in February 2009 for Unit 3 being under violation of the Clear Air Act. Under the settlement, KU had to install state-of-the-art pollution control technologies to reduce sulfur dioxide (SO
2) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions.[2] In November 2017, it was announced by LG&E and KU Energy that Units 1 and 2 were shut down in February 2019.[1][3] Stricter environmental rules and energy efficiency outweighed the cost of running the units.[3]

Solar energy

In 2014, the state Public Service Commission authorized the construction of a solar photovoltaic array at the E. W. Brown Generating Station. The array will be the first utility-scale solar project in the state, and will be capable of providing 10 MW of power alongside the fossil fuel based generators already operating onsite. The Kentucky chapter of the Sierra Club supported the solar project, but had concerns that the projected costs of the solar installation would become too high. The utilities operating the facility, the Sierra Club and the Kentucky Industrial Utilities Customers signed an agreement under which competitive bidding will be used on contracts to design and build the solar array.[4][5] The solar array was unveiled in April 2016 and began operations the following June.[6]

Hydroelectricity

Hydroelectric power is powered by the nearby Dix Dam. The dam generates 33 MW.[7]

See also

References
  1. Danielle Del Rosario, Krizka; Palicpic, Ciaralou (April 5, 2019). "More than 2,000 MW of coal-fired capacity taken offline in February". S&P Global Market Intelligence. Retrieved April 5, 2019.
  2. "Kentucky Utilities Company Clean Air Act Settlement". USA EPA. February 3, 2009. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  3. Bruggers, James (November 14, 2017). "LG&E and KU credits LED lights as it announces plans to shut down two coal-burning units". The Courier-Journal. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  4. Estep, Bill (December 22, 2014). "Kentucky's first major solar-powered generating facility approved for Mercer County". kentucky.com. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
  5. "Kentucky Utilities, Louisville seek approval of 700-MW gas project". power-eng.com. PennWell Corporation. January 24, 2014. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
  6. Peterson, Erica (April 19, 2016). "As Use Grows, Kentucky's First Utility-Scale Solar Plant Unveiled". WFPL. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
  7. "No Jobs Lost as KU Decides to Retire Two Coal-Fired Units". WCLU. November 15, 2017. Retrieved November 16, 2017.
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