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Proposed Power Plant Project
Your
Questions Answered
Real
questions posed by local residents, and answers provided by
FMPA
How did FMPA decide that its proposed plant would
be powered by natural gas?
How
did FMPA select the location for its plant?
Why can’t FMPA’s power plant serve
the area west of I-95?
Will FMPA’s plant require a water source,
access to transmission lines or access to rail lines for any
reason?
What kind of relationship is there between FMPA
and Florida Power & Light?
Does FMPA have other power plants that utilize
other fuels, such as coal, oil, nuclear?
Q: How did FMPA decide that its proposed
plant would be powered by natural gas?
A:
FMPA undertook a detailed study of its long-term power generation
needs. The results identified the best combination of power
generation resources to provide reliable power at the lowest
cost for FMPA’s member cities. Study results showed
that FMPA’s cities will have a significant need for
new power generation beginning in 2008 and recommended filling
the need with a high-efficiency 300 Megawatt natural gas-fueled
generating unit. In addition, FMPA investigated a variety
of alternative power supply options, including renewable energy
generation and energy conservation, to ensure that a natural
gas unit was the best option for FMPA's system to ensure cost-effective
and dependable power supply. Also, FMPA issued a request for
proposals in September 2004 seeking to purchase power from
another entity rather than build a new unit. The proposals
received were evaluated based on power cost and other factors
including reliability and risk. All investigations showed
that building a new natural gas-fueled unit is the best, most
economical option to serve the identified need. State agencies
will review these determinations in the plant approval process.
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Energy Center page
Q:
How did FMPA select the location for its plant?
A:
FMPA evaluated potential plant sites using site selection
criteria, such as environmental sensitivities, wastewater
or water availability, wastewater services, environmental
site conditions, land use and ownership, site development
and construction costs, transmission interconnection, fuel
delivery and other considerations. The evaluation looked at
a few sites, and the results showed that the site in Fort
Pierce was the best option. The Fort Pierce site is well-suited
for a power plant. In fact, it was previously approved by
the St. Lucie County Commission for a power plant project.
Among many other positive site conditions, the location is
near several FMPA cities and is well-positioned to avoid congestion
on the high-voltage electric transmission system. This location
will enable FMPA to contract with Fort Pierce Utilities Authority
(FPUA) to operate the plant. FPUA brings a wealth of experience
in power plant operation, a proven track-record and a strong
community connection to the Treasure Coast Energy Center.
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Energy Center page
Q:
Why can’t FMPA’s power plant serve the area west
of I-95?
A:
FMPA is a wholesale power supply agency serving municipal
electric utilities. FMPA’s function is to supply electricity
at the wholesale level to municipal electric utilities, and
these city-owned electric utilities in turn provide electricity
at the retail level to electric customers in their service
territory. Thus, the Treasure Coast Energy Center is intended
to serve the needs of FMPA’s municipal electric utility
members, which include the cities of Fort Pierce, Vero Beach,
Lake Worth, Clewiston and other cities. My understanding is
that the area west of I-95 is in Florida Power & Light’s
(FPL) service territory, so FPL is responsible for providing
power generation to serve its retail customers.
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Energy Center page
Q: Will FMPA’s plant
require a water source, access to transmission lines or access
to rail lines for any reason?
A:
A natural gas-fueled power plant does require water for the
power generation process. To conserve precious water resources,
the Treasure Coast Energy Center is designed to use treated
wastewater. The reclaimed water likely will be supplied by
Fort Pierce Utilities Authority (FPUA) from a wastewater treatment
plant that will be built adjacent to the power plant. If needed,
until the FPUA treatment plant is operational, three onsite
groundwater wells will provide water.
Treasure
Coast Energy Center does require access to transmission lines.
Two potential new transmission lines are proposed to connect
with Florida Power & Light’s (FPL) electric transmission
system for distribution to FMPA’s member cities. One
line will parallel Glades Cut-Off Road for a distance of approximately
three miles, at which point it will connect into an existing
FPL transmission line. That is our preferred connection. A
second potential line will parallel Landfill Road until it
crosses I-95 and then follow paths generally heading south
to connect with FPL’s Midway Substation. The proposed
routes are the most direct means with the least impact, and
the routes follow existing road rights-of-way and impact industrial,
utility and transportation rather than residential properties.
Railroad
access is not necessarily required for the construction and
operation of this project. The certification site application
does show a potential rail spur from the Florida East Coast
Railroad that runs along the northwest edge of the site. Our
plan is to allow the construction contractor to decide whether
to build the rail spur, which may be useful for heavy equipment
deliveries. Technically, railroad access is not required.
Rail access is only for construction and will not be used
during operation of the plant
The
natural gas fuel for the plant will be delivered to the site
by new and existing pipelines from Florida Gas Transmission
Company (FGT). Existing FGT pipelines are located approximately
3,700 feet from the site. The existing gas mains parallel
the Florida Turnpike. A new lateral pipeline will be installed
underground from the gas main to the site.
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Energy Center page
Q: What kind of relationship is there
between FMPA and Florida Power & Light?
A:
The two organizations are distinct and separate.
Florida Power & Light is an investor-owned electric utility
that serves retail electric customers. Florida Municipal Power
Agency is a not-for-profit, wholesale power agency serving
the power generation needs of municipal electric utilities.
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Energy Center page
Q: Does FMPA have other power plants
that utilize other fuels, such as coal, oil, nuclear?
A:
Yes, FMPA has ownership interests in 12 operating power plants,
including one nuclear unit at the St. Lucie Plant jointly
owned and operated by Florida Power & Light, two coal-fired
units jointly owned and operated by Orlando Utilities Commission,
seven plants fueled by natural gas, and two oil-fired units
in Key West.
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Energy Center page
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