New Coal Generation
More than half of the power produced in the United States is generated using coal. The continued use of coal is fundamental to Duke Energy as we plan for new power plants to economically and reliably meet our customers’ growing need for electricity.
Duke Energy is pursuing two types of coal plants to meet our customers’ growing demand. In the Carolinas, we are pursuing a modern and highly efficient 800-megawatt advanced clean coal unit that incorporates an array of emissions control technologies to reduce emissions. This is a proven technology that can be brought on line to meet our customers’ need for new base load generation by 2012. This project is taking place at our Cliffside Steam Station and also involves the retirement of four existing coal units.
In Indiana, we are building a state-of-the-art 630-megawatt integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) power plant that converts coal to a synthetic gas that is used to produce power. This project is being constructed at the Duke Energy Indiana 160-megawatt Edwardsport power plant and the existing coal and oil-fired units will be retired. Duke Energy Indiana has direct experience with IGCC technology and was involved with the design and construction of the IGCC plant in Terre Haute, Indiana, that has been in operation since 1994.
