Exelon Generation Breaks Ground On New 1,000 Megawatt Natural Gas Power Generating Unit At Colorado Bend Generating Station

New air-cooled generating unit builds on Exelon's commitment to provide clean and reliable energy to Texas

Wharton, TX /PRNewswire/ - Senior executives from Exelon Generation, Alstom, General Electric and Zachry were joined by community leaders from Wharton, Texas to officially break ground today on the construction of a new low-carbon, combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) at Exelon's Colorado Bend Generating Station in Wharton. The new CCGT will provide an additional 1,000 megawatts to the existing 498 megawatt natural gas power plant. The new unit will be one of the most environmentally friendly and efficient CCGTs in the state and the nation, using General Electric's most advanced gas turbine technology and an air cooling system, eliminating the use of water to cool the unit.  

Construction of the new unit is a part of Exelon Generation's ongoing growth strategy and will allow the company to offer more low-carbon electricity to the growing Texas market. The new unit at Colorado Bend is one of two new CCGTs the company is developing in Texas. The other 1,000 megawatt CCGT will be constructed at Exelon's existing Wolf Hollow Generating Station in Granbury, Texas, which is approximately 35 miles outside of Ft. Worth. Both units are expected to achieve commercial operation in 2017.

"Exelon is a forward-looking company, and what we see is a clean energy future that includes this kind of new technology, which uses little water and produces few emissions while generating electricity at a very low cost," said Ken Cornew, president and CEO, Exelon Generation. "We're delighted to be the first to employ this GE technology, and we're delighted to do it in Texas. This is how Exelon sees the energy future of America – clean, affordable and efficient."

"For future prosperity in Wharton County, we are going to need more power," said Wharton Mayor Domingo Montalvo, Jr. "Exelon assures me that we'll have the most efficient, reliable power that can be produced with this new unit."

"Exelon Generation is focused on teamwork to create innovative solutions for our customers," said Corey Hessen, vice president of Generation Development, Exelon Generation. "We are very proud of how our integrated development team of Exelon, Alstom, GE and Zachry created a generation solution that meets the needs of Texas, successfully balancing the need for new sources of power with environmental considerations."