Contact: Priscilla Knight, 703-392-1580, pknight@novec.com
NORTHERN VIRGINIA—The Northern Virginia Electric Cooperative announced today that it has signed a power purchase agreement with Cogentrix Energy, LLC and will begin purchasing electric power from Cogentrix’s modernized plants in Hopewell, Va., and Portsmouth, Va., in June 2009.
Mike Dailey, NOVEC vice president of business development and energy systems, says the combined output from the two power plants is 204 megawatts of electric power, which will meet approximately one-fourth of NOVEC’s current summer peak demand and one-third of the Co-op’s current winter peak demand.
NOVEC President/CEO Stan Feuerberg says, “NOVEC’s overall long-term strategy is to deliver to our customer-owners a locally-controlled energy supply that is reliable, environmentally responsible, and competitively priced. Power from the Hopewell and Portsmouth plants fits well into this strategy.”
Cogentrix designed its Hopewell and Portsmouth plants for cogeneration. Cogeneration produces two or more energy products, such as steam and electricity, from one fuel supply. By sharing thermal output from a single fuel source, cogeneration reduces energy consumption and emissions, and effectively lowers the carbon footprint of the facilities.
The design, construction, and technology of the Hopewell and Portsmouth plants allow for a higher degree of dispatchability. “Dispatchability will allow NOVEC to increase, decrease, or even turn off the electrical output from the plants,” notes Tom Bonner, Cogentrix senior vice president of operations and asset management. “As a result, NOVEC will be able to optimize the economics of electricity supply for its customers.”
Environmental Controls
In 2004, Cogentrix retrofitted the Hopewell and Portsmouth plants with Enhanced Overfire Air technology to reduce nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. According to Bonner, this retrofit reduced NOx emissions from the plants by 30 percent.
In 2008, Cogentrix completed the installation of flue gas scrubbers and new cooling towers at both plants. The company upgraded the waste-water treatment system, which Bonner says further reduced sulfur and mercury emissions and brought the Hopewell and Portsmouth plants into full compliance with the Clean Air Act and its amendments.
“We’re proud that Cogentrix is recognized as a leader in operating electric generating plants and in environmental management of its facilities,” states Bonner. “The recent modifications and additions at the Hopewell and Portsmouth facilities are indicative of the stewardship Cogentrix provides to ensure our operations are up to date with the latest emissions control technology. These improvements reduce fuel and water consumption and reduce CO2 emissions for each kilowatt-hour of electricity generated.”
Headquartered in Charlotte, N.C., Cogentrix owns and operates independent power and cogeneration plants in North America, which produce approximately 3,200 gross megawatts of electricity. The company’s facilities produce steam and electricity from a broad base of fuels, including coal, natural gas, waste coal, and solar thermal energy.
