Florida Appeals Court orders state to issue needed permit, agrees
project meets all requirements
TAMPA, Fla., June 13 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Seminole Electric Cooperative's plans for a new clean coal generating unit are back on track following this morning's Appeals Court order directing the state to issue a needed permit.
The Fifth District Court of Appeal, in a unanimous decision, directed the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (FDEP) to issue a final order granting site certification for Unit 3, which will be built at the Seminole Generating Station in Putnam County, Florida.
The 750 megawatt (MW) class Unit 3 project had been sidelined since August 2007 when the FDEP denied its required site certification, despite its previous stipulation that the project meets all certification requirements set forth in Florida's Power Plant Siting Act (PPSA).
"We are very pleased the Court agreed that the project meets all environmental requirements and we remain confident this project is in the best interest of all Floridians," said Timothy Woodbury, Seminole's executive vice president and general manager.
Woodbury says the Cooperative, which provides wholesale energy for 10 electric distribution co-ops, believes that a diverse energy portfolio, including clean coal generating units, is essential to "keeping the lights on and energy affordable."
Unit 3 will feature the most advanced emission control technologies. The station's two 650 megawatt units are currently being upgraded with similar control technologies. These improvements, said Woodbury, will enable Seminole to bring Unit 3 on line with no net increases in several of the station's regulated emissions, "which we believe is a significant achievement."
In addition to proceeding with Unit 3, Seminole also is seeking new renewable energy resources. The Cooperative currently has one of the largest portfolios of renewable energy in the state, just over 100 megawatts, which meets about 4% of its members' energy requirements.
Unit 3 received a need certification from the Florida Public Service Commission in July 2006. Site certification is another key milestone for the project. Next steps include finalizing needed permits and project financing. Unit 3 originally was planned to go into service in May 2012. A spokesperson said the Cooperative will be updating the project schedule with the next several weeks and estimates the project has been delayed "by at least two years." Seminole already has secured alternative resources to meet its projected growth in demand between 2012 and 2014.
About Seminole Electric Cooperative Inc.
Seminole, headquartered in Tampa, is the wholesale power supplier for 10 electric distribution co-ops that serve an estimated 1.7 million individuals and businesses located across 46 Florida counties. In addition to its 1300 MW Seminole Generating Station, Seminole has an 800 MW natural gas fueled power station in Hardee County and owns a share of a Crystal River nuclear unit. The cooperative meets the balance of its members' energy needs through a portfolio of purchase power resources.
For more information visit the Cooperative's web site at
http://www.seminole-electric.com.
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