Repowering by Mexico’s Comision Federal de Electricidad (CFE) of the Poza Rica power plant to natural gas from fuel oil is nearing completion. The plant, in the state of Vera Cruz, is expected to begin delivering power to the grid next month, according to a press release from CFE. The plant is expected to generate about 255 MW using natural gas. Before the repowering, the plant was capable of generating 117 MW, based on installed capacity, using fuel oil. CFE said the switch to natural gas will eliminate the emission of more than 122,000 tons of carbon dioxide per year. The project cost US$153 million and included the modernization of three steam turbines. CFE is in the process of increasing its reliance on natural gas for power generation as it shifts from diesel and fuel oil.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission has approved expansion of natural gas pipeline facilities by Eastern Shore Natural Gas (ESNG), a unit of Chesapeake Utilities, in order to serve Calpine Energy Services‘ Garrison Energy Center in Dover, DE. ESNG will transport 45,000 Dth/d to the new 309 MW power plant. ESNG plans to expand its facilities with the installation of 5.4 miles of 16-inch diameter pipeline looping and 3,550 hp of new compression in Delaware. These new facilities are estimated to cost $38 million. Since Calpine’s electric generation plant initiated operations in the second quarter of 2015, ESNG has been providing Calpine with a limited mix of short-term service solutions until the facilities associated with this project are completed. Completion of the facilities are anticipated during the first quarter of 2017.