J. P. Pulliam Generating Station Explained

J. P. Pulliam Generating Station
Country:United States
Location:Green Bay, Wisconsin
Coordinates:44.54°N -88.0086°W
Owner:WEC Energy
Operator:Wisconsin Public Service Corporation
Status:O
Th Fuel Primary:Natural gas
Th Technology:Combustion turbine
Ps Cooling Source:Green Bay
Ps Electrical Capacity:83
Commissioned:Units 1–2: 1927
Unit 3: 1943
Unit 4: 1947
Unit 5: 1949
Unit 6: 1951
Unit 7: 1958
Unit 8: 1964
Unit P31: 2003
Decommissioned:Units 1–2: 1980
Units 3–4: 2007
Units 5–6: 2015
Units 7–8: 2018

J. P. Pulliam Generating Station was an electrical power station powered by sub-bituminous coal, which could also be substituted by natural gas. It was located in Green Bay, Wisconsin in Brown County. The plant was named after the former Wisconsin Public Service Corporation president John Page Pulliam ( - June 15, 1951). The plant units were connected to the power grid via 138 kV and 69 kV transmission lines. The remaining coal units on site were decommissioned in 2018 leaving only the natural gas fired P31 unit active at the site.

Units

Units of J. P. Pulliam Generating Station[1]
UnitNameplate capacityInitial year of operationNotes
110 MW1927Retired 1980
210 MW1927Retired 1980
330 MW 1943Retired 2007
430 MW1947Retired 2007
550 MW1949693 million BTU per hour, dry bottom boilers that burned pulverized coal. Retired c.2015.[2]
662.5 MW1951875 million BTU per hour, dry bottom boilers that burned pulverized coal. Retired c.2015.
775 MW1958999 million BTU per hour, dry bottom boilers that burn pulverized coal.[3] Retired c.2018.[4]
8125 MW19641510 million BTU per hour, dry bottom boilers that burn pulverized coal. Retired c.2018.
P3183 MW2003Combustion Turbine Generator (Natural Gas or Fuel Oil)

Retirement

As a result of EPA clean air act enforcement, two coal fired units were retired at Pulliam in 2015 and WPSC was required to make $300 million in upgrades at the Weston Generating Station.[5] Those costs were passed on to utility rate payers.[6] At least ten positions were eliminated when Unit 5 and 6 were retired.

In 2016, WEC Energy (which purchased WPS in 2014) announced they would be retiring the remaining coal units at Pulliam due to lower natural gas prices and affordability of renewables, and they would retire the plant by the end of 2018.[7] The plant was retired in October 2018,[8] with most of its equipment auctioned off in March 2019. [9]

Some local groups expressed concern that the closure may affect local bald eagle populations due to the lack of waste heat keeping the mouth of the Fox River from freezing in the winter,[10] and peregrine falcon populations due to the removal of nesting boxes.[11]

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Existing Electric Generating Units in the United States, 2006 . Energy Information Administration, U.S. Department of Energy . 2006 . Excel . 2008-07-14.
  2. News: Wisconsin Public Service to close 2 oldest coal-power units . Associated Press . Milwaukee Journal Sentinel . March 13, 2014.
  3. Web site: Clean Air Permit 405031990-P10 . WI DNR . June 11, 2003.
  4. Web site: 'Halley's Comet of economic development': Stars align to relocate Green Bay's coal piles . Jeff Bollier . Green Bay Press-Gazette . February 27, 2019 . February 28, 2019.
  5. Web site: Wisconsin Public Service Corporation Settlement . EPA . January 4, 2013 . September 26, 2015.
  6. News: Green Bay utility to stop burning coal at two state plants . Thomas . Content . Milwaukee Journal Sentinel . January 4, 2013 .
  7. News: Green Bay's Pulliam Plant Will 'Retire' By End Of 2018. Murray. Patty. Wisconsin Public Radio. December 1, 2017. October 30, 2018.
  8. Wisconsin Public Service Corporation Annual Report on Form 10-K, For the Year Ended December 31, 2018 . SEC.gov . Sep 20, 2019 . Utility Segment . In connection with a MISO ruling, we retired Pulliam Units 7 and 8 effective October 21, 2018.
  9. News: Online auction selling off equipment from Pulliam Power Plant . WLUK . Mar 22, 2019 . Sep 20, 2019.
  10. News: Srubas . Paul . Shutdown of Pulliam plant means fewer eagles in Green Bay this winter . Green Bay Press-Gazette . Feb 1, 2019 . Sep 20, 2019.
  11. Web site: Green Bay Peregrine Falcons Will Soon Need New Home . Wisconsin Public Radio . Mar 30, 2018 . Sep 20, 2019.