The developer said that the plant can be built with minimal rate impact, will create nearly 2,500 construction jobs and will result in an almost two million ton per year net reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.
Under the Illinois Clean Coal Portfolio Standard Law, the project was required to perform a Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) study to estimate the cost based upon a detailed engineering assessment of the labor and materials needed to build the plant. The FEED study was paid for in part through an $18m grant by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity.
Upon completion of the FEED study, a Facility Cost Report (FCR) was prepared identifying the projected price, rate impact and environmental performance of the plant.
According to Tenaska, conventional pollutants, including mercury, sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter, will be dramatically reduced to a fraction of conventional coal plant levels; and dry cooling design will reduce water usage by 70% and produce no liquid discharge.
Bart Ford, vice president of Tenaska, said : “We’re gratified that more than 120,000 engineering hours performed by some of the leading firms in the world confirmed our expectations for the price and performance of the Taylorville Energy Center.
”Once the ICC submits its evaluation of this report, we look forward to Illinois General Assembly approval allowing this project to go forward. Depending upon when the ICC issues its report, construction could begin as early as year end.”
