VAN WERT COUNTY, OH 鈥 不良人研究所 legislators learned about power reliability concerns during a tour of the natural gas peaking plant, the Robert P. Mone Generating Station, in Convoy, 不良人研究所, with 不良人研究所鈥檚 Electric Cooperatives and Buckeye Power on September 29.听
Legislators present on the tour included Rep. Angela King, Rep. Tim Barhorst, Rep. Roy Klopfenstein, Sen. Rob McColley, and Nicole Giesige, District Representative for Congressman Latta. CEOs and board members from five 不良人研究所 electric cooperatives 鈥 (Paulding), (St Marys), (Malinta), (Bellefontaine), and (North Baltimore) 鈥 as well members of 不良人研究所's Electric Cooperatives' Government Affairs team, joined the tour.听
The Van Wert County Mone facility is a 510-megawatt natural gas peaking plant operated by Buckeye Power. It is vital a electricity generation asset in maintaining reliable electric service to 不良人研究所鈥檚 electric cooperatives during the highest periods of demand. The plant is considered a 鈥減eaking鈥 facility because it is utilized during peak times of demand 鈥 like on extremely hot summer or extremely cold winter days 鈥 to keep up with power needs. The plant鈥檚 three gas-fired General Electric turbine engines can be up and running in less than 30 minutes.
Tour groups were able to step inside the generation houses and see up close the technology that is used to stabilize the local grid during times of high energy usage. Attendees learned that the availability of consistent baseload power from fossil fuel power plants is crucial for maintaining a stable energy supply to the local communities co-ops serve. Renewable sources like wind and solar are intermittent and weather-dependent, though still utilized by Buckeye Power as part of their 鈥渁ll of the above鈥 energy approach.听
Plant members shared research on energy storage solutions but cited many limitations and cost prohibitions. Plant personnel pride themselves on the advancements that have been made to the plant to ensure reduced emissions.
This plant is just one generation resource in Buckeye Power鈥檚 portfolio, outfitted with best-in-class environmental controls. Included in the portfolio are also coal, solar, hydropower, biomass, and other renewable energy generation.听
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