Sandow Steam Electric Station and Mine
Background
Sandow Steam Electric Station Unit 4 is a lignite-fueled generating unit owned and operated by Luminant. Units 1, 2 and 3 , owned by Alcoa, were retired in December 2006. Unit 5, a new, state-of-the-art plant using Best Available Control Technology (BACT) for air emissions, is currently under construction with a planned commercial operation the first half of 2009.
Economic Impact to the Area
Luminant is proud to be a major contributor to the economy in areas where it maintains and operates facilities. Luminant produces an annual economic benefit of more than $1.2 Billion across Texas through power plant payrolls, purchases, contracts, taxes paid and other expenditures. The Unit 5 project will add millions of dollars to the Milam County tax rolls, improve the local economy and help attract new businesses to the area. It will also utilize locally-mined lignite coal, further benefiting the local economy, while helping to decrease Texas' over-reliance on volatile and expensive natural gas and meet growing electric demand.
History
Unit 4 of the Sandow Steam Electric Station began operation in 1981. Lignite mining in the Sandow area has occurred in varying degrees since the early 1900s. Modern operations began in 1952, when Alcoa entered an agreement with Texas Power & Light Company (a Luminant predecessor) and McAlester Fuel Company that allowed construction of an aluminum smelting plant to be powered by three lignite-fueled generating units. Unit 5 is scheduled to be available for operations in 2009 with Best Available Control Technology.
Awards
Luminant has received numerous awards over past years from a variety of regulatory, conservation, municipal and other organizations. Safety is a priority at all company facilities.
Environmental Equipment and Accomplishments
At Luminant, we care about the air we share. Luminant is committed to innovative leadership in managing environmental issues, including minimizing its own impact on the environment without sacrificing the interests of future generations.
As part of the overall program to protect clean air, all Luminant plants have been modified to reduce emissions, through equipment and/or operational changes. Because of these initiatives, Luminant has been a leader in reducing nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions in Texas At Sandow Unit 4, a highly efficient electrostatic precipitator is used to remove particulate matter, and a limestone scrubber removes sulfur dioxide. In addition, Luminant plans to install a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system to further reduce NOx emissions as well as activated carbon-sorbent injection technology to control mercury emissions.
Ash by-products from the lignite and scrubber operation are recycled into products such as cinder blocks, cement additive, and gypsum for wallboard.
The Sandow 5 project currently under construction will employ circulating fluidized bed technology and use Best Available Control Technology to reduce air emissions. These controls will include:
- Selective non-catalytic reduction (SNCR) technology to control NOx emissions
- Dry flue gas desulfurization or 'scrubber' technology to reduce sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions
- High-efficiency baghouse fabric filters to reduce particulate matter (PM) in the air exiting the power plant
- Sorbent injection to control mercury emissions
Civic
Luminant has a rich history of community leadership through employee volunteerism, employee contributions and company financial support. Employees of the plant support a variety of organizations in their community. United Way and Energy Aid receive employee contributions through payroll deductions as well as personal donations.
