Two new gas-fired power stations announced last week will jointhe 18,300 MW of planned gas-fired power plants in the Northeastregion recently tallied by Resource Data International (RDI) ofBoulder, Colo. (see NGI, 02/09/97).

Belgium’s largest electric utility, Tractebel, formed a jointventure with Sprague Energy to propose a new gas-fired, independentpower project in Newington, NH. The Newington project will bebetween 170 MW and 700 MW and will enter the construction stage inlate-1999 and reach commercial operation by the year 2001.

And Champion International Corp. paper mill in Bucksport, Maineplans a 174-MW, gas-fired cogeneration project to replace itsexisting coal-fired boilers.

The Tractebel project, its second major Northeast U.S. proposalin 30 days, will use natural gas flowing from Canada within a newpipeline bringing gas to the New England states. The wide gapbetween the proposed generating capacity of the project means theproject is still “conceptual.” A decision on plant capacity will bemade shortly, officials said.

However, under the existing agreement between Tractebel andSprague Energy, an oil dealer in the Newington area, Tractebel willbuild, own and operate the project, while Sprague Energy providesthe plant site under a long-term leasing arrangement. Whencompleted it will operate as a merchant power plant.

Tractebel is just coming off a proposal made last month in whichit and Juno Beach, Florida-based FPL Group agreed to purchase twoexisting 300-MW gas-fired, combined-cycle power plants in theNortheast. The FPL Group/Tractebel purchases include a 300-MW,gas-fired, combined-cycle cogeneration plant at Bellingham, MA,southwest of Boston, and a similar 300 MW plant at Sayreville, NJ,near Newark.

The 174 MW Champion International project is planned for severalreasons. The mill currently burns some 110,000 tons of coal, oil,wood and tire chips. The use of gas will give the mill access tolower fuel prices and the price flexibility offered by natural gasand reduce sulfur emissions by 50%. Use of gas would end themill’s dependence on coal supplies. The project will also enhanceits required steam supply. Champion International plans operationof the cogeneration unit by November 1999. Much like the Tractebelproject, the Champion International project is dependent on gassupplies from a proposed pipeline moving gas from Canada intosouthern Maine.

Theo Mullen

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