Platte Generating Station Location/Visitor Information

Platte Generating Station is located about two miles south of Grand Island at the corner of Wildwood Drive and South Locust Street. From Interstate 80, exit 312, travel north on US 281 toward Grand Island for two miles. At Wildwood Drive, turn east and travel 1 1/2 miles to the main entrance. Platte Generating Station is open to the public during our regular business hours of Monday through Friday (except holidays) from 8 AM to 4 PM. All visitors must check into the office located on the north side of main building (plant) immediately upon entering the site. Anyone planning to enter the plant site after regular business hours should make prior arrangements.

Platte Generating Station ( PGS ) was commissioned in 1982 and has provided reliable, low-cost electrical power to the community during the succeeding twenty years.

PGS produces electrical power for approximately 60 percent of the national average cost. According to the Utility Data Institute, Platte Generating Station was ranked the 11th lowest-cost electricity producer among 707 power plants nation-wide from 1989 through 1993. PGS is consistently among the top 25 most efficient plants year-to-year. Among Nebraska cities, Grand Island's electrical rates are in the lowest fifth. The City's last electrical power rate increase was in 1979 and a 15% rate decrease was accomplished in 1989.

PGS burned approximately 364,600 tons of low-sulfur coal in 1997 to produce 496,523 megawatts.

Efficient and reliable service is attained through the acquisition of low-cost coal, and effective operation and maintenance practices. PGS has a staff of experienced, well-trained employees who have produced an enviable long-term plant operating record. The plant operates and is staffed continuously, including all holidays.

At full capacity, PGS produces 100 megawatts of electrical power which is enough to illuminate one million, 100 watt light bulbs. During most of the year, PGS provides enough power to satisfy customer demand. However, during peak demand periods additional power is generated at the Burdick Power Station or purchased from other power producers.

Electrical power is generated at PGS in strict compliance with local, state, and federal environmental regulations. In fact, PGS's air emissions remain well below required levels. In order to produce "clean" electrical power, low sulfur coal from Wyoming's Powder River Basin is burned. Low sulfur coal reduces the formation of air pollutants. Additionally, an electrostatic precipitator is used at PGS to remove more than 99 percent of the ash created during the coal combustion process. Since January 1, 1995, a continuous emissions monitor ( CEM ) has been in service which documents PGS's minute-by-minute compliance with clean air regulations.

Most water used at PGS is ultimately returned to the Platte River, following verification that acceptable water discharge standards have been met. Plant systems are designed for water conservation. For example, steam used in the turbine is condensed back into water and reused, and water used for transporting ash is returned to the plant for re-cycling.

Environmental Compliance and Stewardship

Platte Generating Station ( PGS ) fully complies with all environmental quality regulations. Air emissions such as opacity (a measure of particulate ash level), sulfur dioxide, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen oxide are monitored minute-by-minute and controlled below allowable limits. Water discharged to the Platte River is tested for pH and the presence of metals such as iron and copper. Only water which has been proven of acceptable quality is discharged from the plant site.

The staff at PGS aggressively pursue improvements in power plant efficiency. When plant efficiency is improved, less coal is required to produce electrical power. As a result, the formation of coal combustion by-products is reduced and lowers power production cost are lowered.

Plant equipment is maintained in top operating condition. Well planned equipment maintenance and inspection contributes to a reliable and efficient power station. At PGS, maintenance outage time is used to clean equipment such as the electrostatic precipitator which removes ash before combustion gas is discharged to the atmosphere. Cleaning the "precip" on a regular basis results in an ash particulate emission ( opacity ) level which is well below the allowable limit.

Whenever possible, water and steam are reused within power production systems and "waste" heat is used to heat incoming air and water streams. For example, hot gasses formed during the coal combustion process are used to heat air which is used in the fuel drying and steam generation processes. This procedure results in less coal consumption, higher plant efficiency, and lower emission levels.

Employees at PGS are interested in managing the plant site in a manner which promotes the establishment and maintenance of wildlife species such as deer, quail, pheasant, migratory waterfowl, turkey, birds-of-prey, song and shore birds, and fish. Some volunteer habitat improvement projects at PGS have included the maintenance of sheltered tree and tall grass areas which were originally planted in the early 1980's, installation of nesting platforms for Canada Geese on plant site ponds, and placement of wooden Bluebird houses by local junior high school students. Pest control poisons are not used at the plant due to the possibility of accidental ingestion by deer and birds. Each year Platte Generating Station participates in the annual North American Migratory Bird Count.

In response to concerns about fossil fuel-based power generation effects on the environment, stringent air quality, water quality, and waste management compliance legislation has been enacted at all levels of government in recent years. As a condition of continued operation, PGS must comply with environmental protection laws and demonstrate its compliance through the periodic submittal of reports to agencies such as the Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) and Nebraska Department of Environmental Quality.

Individuals and groups are welcome to tour the PGS facility and learn about plant operations. Presentations to student groups include a discussion of electrical power generation alternatives and environmental issues.

Statistical Information

Conventional appraisals of power plant operations include availability (a measure of reliability), cost-effectiveness, safety record, and compliance to environmental protection regulations.  Platte Generating Station has achieved noteworthy successes in each of these areas over the years.

During its fifteen year history, PGS employees have kept the plant operating at least ninety percent of the time in five different years. In 1996, PGS was available 93.4 percent of the time. This reliability level was only one percent below PGS's highest availability of 94.5% set in 1988. Achieving high plant availability in 1996 directly contributed to the continued provision of low cost power the good financial performance of the utility.

Platte Generating Station Annual Availability

While operating and maintaining PGS for maximum availability is a primary goal, running the plant as efficiently and cost-effectively as possible is nearly as important. PGS remains a top ranked power station when cost issues are considered. Using the most recent data available (from 1995), PGS ranked as the 20th most cost-effective power plant nationally among a total of 619 stations. This ranking is particularly gratifying because PGS once again is the smallest plant on the list. PGS doesn't have many of the advantages which larger, multi-unit, "mine mouth" plants have such as shared systems (coal conveying, ash handling, warehousing, etc.) and close proximity to low cost fuel resources. PGS's excellent production costs directly result from favorable delivered coal prices and effective plant operations and maintenance.

In the 1990's operating a power plant in strict compliance with environmental protection legislation is paramount. In 1996, PGS achieved an exceptional environmental compliance record as a direct result of the commitment, knowledge, and skill of individuals responsible for operating the plant, maintaining emissions monitoring equipment, and managing through the maze of continually changing environmental rules, regulations, permits, and reporting requirements.

PGS's 1996 safety record contained several positive accomplishments. During the year, we logged nearly 90,000 working hours were logged without a lost time injury and the station's coal handling crew safely unloaded and handled more than 350,000 tons of coal from 31 trains during frequent extreme weather conditions.

Miscellaneous Information