Gulfport, Miss. - Mississippi Power's Kemper County energy facility has reached several major construction milestones, including the first fire of the facility's two combustion turbines (CT). The first fires were completed Aug. 28 on the first CT and Sept. 4 on the second CT.
"Firing up the combustion turbines is an important milestone in both the construction and startup phases of the Kemper County energy facility," said John Huggins, vice president of generation development. "The Kemper team continues its around-the-clock work to deliver this 21st century technology for the benefit of our customers for generations to come."
The first fire of the combustion turbines means that a controlled flame is present in the combustion section of the turbines indicating its ability to help the facility produce electricity once fully operational.
The Kemper facility will use the two combustion turbines coupled with a steam turbine to form the "combined cycle" unit. A combined cycle unit is among the most efficient forms of generating electricity for large-scale power production.
"Employees safely and successfully executed the first fire process and completed all necessary checks and tests to ensure the combustion turbines' capabilities," continued Huggins. "This milestone is further indication that we are one step closer to the startup of the plant."
In the first week of August, the company completed the first fire of the plant's auxiliary boiler ahead of schedule. The auxiliary boiler will heat water into steam for use in the startup of the facility.
Also in early August, the final 230 kilovolt (kV) transmission line was energized and is now capable of receiving electricity from the plant. Five new transmission lines and five new substations are being built to carry electricity from the Kemper facility to Mississippi Power customers. The transmission construction phase of the Kemper project is scheduled to be completed by early 2014 when the final 115kV line is completed.
"There are currently 6,000 workers on-site and more than 450 Mississippi companies involved in the project, which has been a major boost to the state's economy," said Huggins. "Our team remains focused on executing our plans, and safely completing the facility to provide our customers a clean, safe, reliable and affordable generation resource for decades to come."
Mississippi Power, a subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO), produces safe, reliable and environmentally responsible energy for more than 186,000 customers in 23 southeast Mississippi counties. Recognized throughout the utility industry for excellence in storm restoration and recovery efforts, Mississippi Power is the 2013 winner of the Edison Electric Institute's Emergency Assistance Award. Visit our website at www.mississippipower.com, Follow us on Twitter, or Like us on Facebook.
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Forward-Looking Statement:
Certain information contained herein is forward-looking information based on current expectations and plans that involve risks and uncertainties. Forward-looking information includes, among other things, statements concerning the projected cost and schedule for the completion of construction of the Kemper IGCC. Mississippi Power cautions that there are certain factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking information that has been provided, including those discussed in Mississippi Power's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2012, as amended, and subsequent securities filings and the ability to control costs and avoid cost overruns during the development and construction of facilities, construct facilities in accordance with the requirements of permits and licenses and satisfy any operational and environmental performance standards; regulatory approvals and actions related to cost recovery for the Kemper IGCC, including Mississippi PSC review of Mississippi Power's proposed rate recovery plan and the prudence of Kemper IGCC costs and actions relating to proposed securitization; the ability to complete the proposed sale of an interest in the Kemper IGCC to South Mississippi Electric Power Association as contemplated by Mississippi Power's proposed rate recovery plan; satisfaction of requirements to utilize investment tax credits and grants; and the outcome of any legal or regulatory proceedings. Mississippi Power expressly disclaims any obligation to update these forward-looking statements.