Navasota Energy said on its website that in June it applied for an air permit on the gas-fired, 543-MW Union Valley Energy Center project in Texas.
The Union Valley Energy Center will be a simple-cycle facility located in Wilson County, Texas. The facility would consist of three highly-efficient, 181-MW natural gas-fired turbines. Upon completion, this facility will support the peak energy demands in the South Zone of the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT).
The facility is anticipated to begin commercial operation during spring 2017, the website said. It is expected to operate less than 1,000 hours per year during ERCOT peak electric demand periods reducing dependency on older inefficient power generation plants.
The Union Valley Energy Center will, among other things, ensure increased reliability of the ERCOT systems grid for the growing San Antonio Area and Eagle Ford Shale Basin. It will also support the development of additional renewable generation by closing the generating gap caused when renewable energy suddenly drops offline.
The project would employ “quick start” turbines which can achieve 100% power production in 10 minutes. The turbines would be the General Electric 7FA.04 model.
Navasota Energy was launched in 2005 to develop power generation projects in Texas to meet the state’s growing energy needs.
Said a July 3 notice from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality: “Navasota South Peakers Operating Company I LLC, has applied to the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) for issuance of State Air Quality Permit Number 120973 and issuance of Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) Air Quality Permit Number PSDTX1420, which would authorize construction of a Natural Gas-Fired Simple Cycle Power Generation Facility at the Union Valley Energy Center.” The notice didn’t offer a further description of the project.
