Basin Electric Power Cooperative said May 24 that with an air permit in hand, it is beginning construction on the next, 90-MW phase at its gas-fired Pioneer Generation Station, located near Williston, N.D.
The North Dakota Department of Health issued an Air Pollution Control Permit to Construct on May 14. Receipt of the air permit means construction on Phase II can begin. Other permits needed were the certificate of site compatibility, received from the North Dakota Public Service Commission on March 27, and the stormwater pollution prevention plan permit, received from the North Dakota Department of Health.
Phase II of the project consists of two, 45-MW peaking turbines similar to the first, bringing the power plant’s total generation output to 135 MW. Myron Steckler, Basin Electric project manager, said crews have begun mobilization for construction of Phase II. These units will be operational by the beginning of 2014.
Phase I of the project is a 45-MW General Electric LM 6000 combustion turbine generator fueled by natural gas. This first phase will go into commercial operation early this summer.
