AMARILLO, Texas--(BUSINESS WIRE)--
Anticipating future electric load growth, Xcel Energy is seeking
approval to add a new, 168-megawatt natural gas-fired combustion turbine
at its Jones Generating Station near Lubbock.
Xcel Energy, through its Amarillo-based subsidiary, Southwestern Public
Service Company (SPS), filed an application to amend its certificate of
convenience and necessity (CCN) today at the Public Utility Commission
of Texas, opening a process to prove the merits of installing another
generator in the SPS service area.
Jones Station, located southeast of Lubbock, is a natural gas-fueled,
steam-electric generating station with two operating units - Jones Unit
1 completed in 1971 and Jones Unit 2 completed in 1974. The plant
currently has a generating capacity of 486 megawatts. Pending regulatory
approval, Xcel Energy plans to build Jones Unit 3 by 2012, equipped with
a Siemens Energy gas combustion turbine with a summer capacity rating of
approximately 168 megawatts. The project will cost approximately $116
million.
Initially, Xcel Energy expects to use the additional power to help meet
summer demand, traditionally higher than any other period of the year.
"Our regional oil and gas industries have expanded even as the national
economy slumped, and we know that these and other industries are
planning more development and more jobs over the next few years," said
Riley Hill, president and CEO of Southwestern Public Service Company, an
Xcel Energy company. "We want to prepare for this anticipated growth
with additional resources that are clean, reliable and cost-effective."
"Another benefit is the new turbine will help us respond more quickly to
changes in the region's growing wind generation output. This type of
technology makes sense at this time," Hill added.
Xcel Energy'sTexas and New Mexico service area covers more than 50,000
square miles, including most of the Texas Panhandle, the Texas South
Plains region, and eastern and southeastern New Mexico. Peak electricity
demand in this region is currently about 5,000 megawatts.
Xcel Energy (NYSE: XEL) is a major U.S. electricity and natural gas
company with regulated operations in eight Western and Midwestern
states. Xcel Energy provides a comprehensive portfolio of energy-related
products and services to 3.4 million electricity customers and 1.9
million natural gas customers through its regulated operating companies.
Xcel Energy's headquarters are located in Minneapolis. More information
is available at www.xcelenergy.com.
Source: Xcel Energy
Contact: Xcel Energy Media Relations
Wes Reeves, 806-679-7773
www.xcelenergy.com