Municipal power group marks completion of generation unit

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Delaware Municipal Electric Corporation, Inc. Wednesday marked the commissioning of unit #2 at the Beasley Power Station in Smyrna. The power plant provides electricity during peak periods when wholesale power prices soar.

The event also came after the municipal electric group agreed to electric rate structures that would encourage economic growth. Over the years, concerns have arisen that electric rates were discouraging employers from locating in cities and towns with municipally owned utilities.

About 100 people attended the event, including representatives of DEMEC, its member communities and local and State officials, including Delaware Gov. Jack Markell, DNREC Secretary Collin O’Mara and Smyrna Mayor Patricia A. Stombaugh.

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This expansion of the Beasley Power Station is further, tangible proof that the Delaware Municipal Electric Corporation is committed to making Delaware more competitive – not just with regard to electric rates, but also with regard to job expansion and community well-being,” said Markell. “The DEMEC member utilities provide tremendous value to the residents and businesses in the communities they serve.”

The DEMEC Beasley Power Station is a 100 megawatt natural gas peak power facility. It will supply power to sevem participating DEMEC member communities. The participating Delaware communities are Newark, New Castle, Middletown, Clayton, Smyrna, Milford and Seaford. Newark and Miiddletown.

In 2001, DEMEC commissioned Unit #1 of the Beasley Power Station facility to supply capacity and energy to the DEMEC communities and the State.

The expansion of the Beasley Power Station fits well with DEMEC’s long-term power supply strategy of reducing its members’ reliance on wholesale power markets through development of diverse generation assets,” DEMEC CEO Patrick E. McCullar said. “DEMEC members have, in the past, relied on the wholesale market for more than 90 percent of their power supply needs. Based on DEMEC members’ long-term power supply analysis, the Beasley Power Station will provide a cost-effective, environmentally friendly, asset-based alternative to wholesale energy and capacity markets.”

The $30 million state-of-the-art electric generation unit expansion is powered by natural gas and state-of-the-art low emission technology. DEMEC is committed to protecting Delaware’s environment while providing the increased generation capacity and reliable energy supply needed to lower the cost of electricity and power Delaware’s economic growth.

The Beasley Power Station can provide the energy to power 95,000 homes. The facility is also capable of being tied into the town of Smyrna distribution system.

The Beasley Power Station’s quick start and energy balancing characteristics also enable the deployment of greater amounts of intermittent Alternative Energy Resources in Delaware while maintaining a stable, reliable power supply system.

DEMEC recently worked with the Governor’s office to improve economic development opportunities in the DEMEC communities by adopting an initiative to lower retail rates and creating economic development incentives to promote business expansion and attract new businesses.

DEMEC is currently in the process of commissioning, start up and other activities. The plant will begin commercial operation this month.

 

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