G. G. Allen Steam Station

G. G. Allen Steam Station
Allen Steam Station in 2013
Map
CountryUnited States
LocationSouth Point Township, Gaston County, North Carolina
Coordinates35°11′25″N 81°0′30″W / 35.19028°N 81.00833°W / 35.19028; -81.00833
StatusOperational
Commission date
  • 1957
OwnerDuke Energy
Thermal power station
Primary fuelCoal
Power generation
Units operational2 × 165 MWe
3 × 275 MWe
Nameplate capacity
  • 1,148.4 MW
  • 435.2 MW
[edit on Wikidata]

G. G. Allen Steam Station is a 1.140 GW coal-fired electricity generating facility, located in South Point Township, Gaston County, North Carolina, on man-made Lake Wylie (part of the Catawba River). Units 1 and 2 (165 MW each) began operating in 1957; units 3, 4, and 5 (275 MW each) in 1959, 1960, and 1961 respectively.[1] Named for George Garland Allen, a former president and first chairman of the board for Duke Power, the Allen facility is the only Duke Energy station with five units under one roof. The plant is equipped with a flue-gas desulfurization system, completed in 2009, that decreases the air emissions coming from the plant. In February 2021, Duke Energy in a filing to the North Carolina Utilities Commission advanced their planned closure for Unit 3 from December 31, 2021 to March 31, 2021. [2] [3]

Environmental impact

G. G. Allen Steam Station is still a major air and water polluter in the region.

The G G Allen Steam Plant scrubber

1995–2001 data

Nitrous Oxide, Sulfur Dioxide, and Carbon Dioxide emissions, in tons per year.[4]
Year NOx SO2 CO2
2001 10,673 37,027 5,487,331
2000 13,054 34,058 5,914,264
1999 12,087 32,169 5,619,742
1998 9,655 25,224 4,508,312
1997 14,090 40,083 6,627,324
1996 15,184 35,291 5,545,956
1995 10,976 21,274 3,661,778
Toxic release inventory from G. G. Allen Steam Station for 2000.[4]
All quantities are in pounds.
Pollutant Air Land Water Total on-site releases
Ammonia 1,605 1,500 3,105
Arsenic compounds 1,105 49,005 3,200 53,310
Barium compounds 4,305 480,005 8,400 492,710
Chromium compounds 995 84,005 600 85,600
Cobalt compounds 205 32,005 1,500 33,710
Copper compounds 605 87,005 2,200 89,810
Hydrochloric acid 5,300,005 5,300,005
Hydrogen fluoride 340,005 340,005
Lead compounds 795 34,005 120 34,920
Manganese compounds 1,205 100,005 4,200 105,410
Mercury compounds 200 110 3 313
Nickel compounds 735 55,005 300 56,040
Sulfuric acid 340,005 340,005
Vanadium compounds 1,005 99,005 750 100,760
Zinc compounds 1,005 60,005 750 61,760
TOTAL 5,993,780 1,080,160 23,523 7,097,463

See also

References

  1. ^ "Existing Electric Generating Units in the United States, 2006" (Excel). Energy Information Administration, U.S. Department of Energy. 2006. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
  2. ^ "Duke Energy to Retire Unit 3 of its Allen Coal Plant in March". Sierra Club. February 2, 2021. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  3. ^ "RE: Duke Energy Carolinas, LLC Update to Allen Unit 3 Retirement Date Docket No. E-100, Sub 165" (PDF). Duke Energy. February 2, 2021. Retrieved April 20, 2021.
  4. ^ a b "Comment on the proposed Title V permit for G. G. Allen electric power station" (PDF). Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League. 2003. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2007-02-03. Retrieved 2008-07-21.