Owen Electric Sets Natural Gas-Fueled Generator For Distributed Generation Project

In its continued commitment to provide members with safe, reliable and affordable energy, Owen Electric Cooperative has partnered with Harshaw Trane to construct a 2 MW (megawatt) natural gas generation facility.

Excavators broke ground in March, preparing the foundation of the new facility set by crane Tuesday morning. The unit consists of a single, enclosed Caterpillar Model G3516H natural gas-fueled, 1988 kW generator; it is located adjacent to the headquarters building.

While East Kentucky Power Cooperative is Owen Electric’s wholesale power supplier, the contract allows a member cooperative to supplement up to 15 percent of its system’s power supply from other sources.

The project is estimated to cost approximately $2.6 million to complete, and the implementation of the natural gas-powered generation facility is estimated to produce a power supply cost savings of approximately $9.4 million over the next 20 years.

Owen Electric has partnered with Carrollton Utilities, operator of the Owen County natural gas system, to provide the fuel needed to run the generator through the recently-constructed pipeline parallel to Highway 127 N.

The benefits Owen Electric’s natural gas generation facility extends beyond cost saving for the cooperative and its member-owners, and will provide additional monetary benefit to the county.

“The city of Owenton receives 3 percent of the gross gas billing. Any connection to the system from the gas line’s origin in Gallatin County, such as the natural gas generation project, will help improve the economic condition for the city of Owenton through its charge for gas sales,” said Chairman of the Owen County Industrial Authority, Frank Downing.

David “Milkweed” Wotier, Mayor of Owenton, added “The additional monies received from this project will go into the city’s general fund and be a great benefit to Owenton.”

The natural gas-powered generation facility is expected to be completed and in service by late June 2016.

“Because Owen Electric is a not-for-profit, member-owned utility, this savings directly impacts our members,” said Mark Stallons, President and CEO. “Given the availability of a natural gas pipeline directly in front of our headquarters and the affordability of the fuel, it just makes sense to take advantage of the opportunity to supplement our power supply with an alternate, low-cost fuel.”