Natural gas power project near Marshall seeking emissions permit

MARSHALL, MI — A New York developer trying to construct a 1,000-megawatt all-natural fuel power challenge in Michigan is creating a next attempt to secure air pollution permits.

The Michigan Section of Surroundings, Great Lakes and Energy (EGLE) is using public comment this thirty day period on Marshall Electrical power Centre LLC’s software for emissions permits needed to develop twin organic fuel-fired energy crops in the city of Marshall.

Growth Companions of White Plains, N.Y., needs to construct the two 500-megawatt purely natural gasoline turbines in the city’s Brooks Industrial Park on about 70 acres situated along Tallmadge Creek just northwest of Stuart and Higher Brace lakes.

The two plants, just about every costing about $400 million to make, would be capable of creating adequate electricity to electricity in excess of 1 million homes, according to state regulators.

The point out says the undertaking, as proposed, would comply with air good quality polices and has drafted a allow. EGLE is getting general public comment on the draft till May well 31 and says it will maintain a public listening to on May possibly 17 if 1 is requested by May perhaps 9.

Organic gasoline is a fossil fuel that makes climate-warming carbon emissions. The vegetation would emit about 4 million tons of carbon dioxide for each year, according to EGLE.

Other things of the facility would emit pollutants such as nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, unstable organic compounds (VOCs), and quite a few sorts of particulate matter.

In accordance to EGLE, Calhoun County is conference nationwide air excellent criteria even though that is primarily based on air displays located in neighboring Kalamazoo County.

This is the next time the job has long gone by way of emissions permitting with EGLE. Authentic programs called for construction to commence in 2019. Initial point out permits were being extended as soon as but finally expired in December 2019. Point out legislation involves design to start out in 18 months of allow issuance, EGLE claimed.

The challenge has transformed because the original application. Strategies initially identified as for a wet cooling tower, but had been adjusted to a closed-loop dry tower that will minimize the project’s h2o use and reduce the require for Marshall’s drinking water technique to set up new significant ability wells.

The task gas would be equipped by present Vector and Panhandle fuel pipelines that cross the industrial park close by.

William Ladd, president of Progress Companions, claimed the project has but to protected commitments with utilities to buy the prepared facility’s electric power.

“What we’re ready on is the commitments for the offtake to buy the electricity,” Ladd mentioned. “That actually drives the timeframe for the facility.”

Ladd stated he continue to options to make in the city’s industrial park. In March, the Coldwater Day-to-day Reporter reported that the enterprise had not renewed its lease there in the slide and experienced dropped out of a queue of technology assignments seeking to be part of the Midcontinent Unbiased System Operator (MISO) grid.

Ladd said he was “not informed of any lease problems.”

A number of calls to interim Marshall city supervisor Derek Perry and utilities director Kevin Maynard looking for additional information and facts were not returned. The city has been counting on the challenge to assist satisfy a shortfall in its local electrical power needs.

Ladd would not estimate when the challenge may possibly get started building and declined to elaborate on funding, which he mentioned was tied to order agreements.

“There demands to be more than enough off-takers for the whole facility to go froward. That is really the driving force in this article,” he said. Once built, he said the electrical power complex “could very probable be owned by a single of the utilities or community ability organizations.”

“These tasks take time,” Ladd said. “There’s a great deal evolving in Michigan with the electric sector.”

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