Company announces plans for fifth turbine
By Dennis Hill
Published in News on August 30, 2005 1:52 PM
Progress Energy officials announced plans Monday to build a fifth combustion turbine at its Wayne County Energy Complex west of Goldsboro.
The $80 million investment will not only give the plant increased electric capacity but add significantly to the county's tax base, company officials said.
A group of city, county and state officials were on hand Monday to tour the plant and listen as Progress Energy officials described the proposed addition, which is expected to be completed in June 2008.
The fifth turbine will allow Progress Energy to better handle peak electric demand during the hottest part of the summer and at other times when electric use increases, plant manager David Jordan said. It is part of the company's plans to cope with the expected growth in electric demand as the eastern North Carolina economy expands, he said.
Jordan said the company would submit its application for a construction permit, complete with an environmental impact statement, to the state Utilities Commission today. He said company officials expect no problems with receiving the permit.
The energy complex currently has a generating capacity of 668 megawatts per hour. The additional turbine will increase that capability to 826 megawatts.
Progress Energy serves 40,000 customers in Wayne County and last year paid $1.7 million in local property taxes.
The company employs about 130 people at its four Wayne County facilities. About 90 percent of them live in the county.