Texas-based Panda Energy International plans to construct a $100million, 750 MW gas-fired merchant power plant in Guadalupe Countynear Marion, TX. The maximum amount of gas the plant could use is126,000 MMBtu/d.

Construction of the Panda Guadalupe Power Plant is scheduled tobegin in 1999 with in-service in 2000. Located near the LowerColorado River Authority’s Marion Switching Station, the plant willgenerate power for sale to any member of the Electric ReliabilityCouncil of Texas (ERCOT), which includes the Lower Colorado RiverAuthority, the City of Austin, Texas Utilities, Houston Lighting& Power, Central Power & Light, City Public Service of SanAntonio, other utilities and numerous co-ops. No new transmissionlines are expected to be needed to carry the power into thestatewide energy grid.

The project will use fuel from both the Pacific Gas &Electric-Texas (formerly Valero) and Oasis gas pipelines. Thecompany is working on agreements to purchase cooling water from theGuadalupe-Blanco River Authority (GBRA), which will be involved intreating water discharged from the plant.

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