SNL Coal Report
BYLINE: Christine Cordner
6/4/2012
The city of Lakeland, Fla., is considering whether to convert unit 3 of its C.D. McIntosh Jr. power plant to be able to burn natural gas in addition to coal depending on fuel prices.
During a presentation to the Lakeland City Commission’s Utility Committee on May 21, Tony Candales, Lakeland Electric assistant general manager for production, outlined the municipal utility’s plans for modifications to the 342-MW unit’s boiler, a proposal spurred by low natural gas prices and federal emissions regulations for coal-fired plants. If the conversion is approved, he expects it to be done in spring 2014.
City spokesman Kevin Cook said May 22 that the city will make a decision once it sees a study, due out in the next 30 to 60 days, about the costs for such a conversion and its impact on ratepayers. The study will then be presented to the City Commission for its decision on whether to approve the conversion, he said. He added that the utility is not considering a full conversion to natural gas and would plan to coincide any work with a scheduled maintenance outage of the unit.
Lakeland Electric is the majority owner (60%) of McIntosh unit 3, in Polk County, in service since 1982. The Orlando Utilities Commission owns the remainder of the unit.
PUBLICATION-TYPE: Newsletter
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