Public officials and Calpine Corp. CEO Jack Fusco celebrated the ground breaking of the Garrison Energy Center, a 309-megawatt power plant to be built in the Garrison Oak Technology Park in Dover, Construction is expected to be completed by the second quarter of 2015.
Estimated cost of the plant is $300 million Gas fired plants have become more attractive as natural gas supplies skyrocketed, due to shale gas discoveries in Pennsylvania.
Published reports have also indicated that the state would like to see natural gas replace replace the state’s last coal-fired unit at NRG’s plant in Sussex County. To the west of Newark, Del., regulatory approvals are being sought in Maryland for construction of a 1,000 megawatt gas power plant to be operated by Old Dominion, the wholesale supplier to Delaware Electric Cooperative.
“When Calpine opened its regional headquarters in Delaware in late 2010, the company announced its commitment to cleaner energy by converting the Edgemoor Energy Center from coal to natural gas as a fuel,” said Gov. Jack Markell. “Today, we celebrate Calpine’s continuing commitment to Delaware’s economy and environment by breaking ground on a new natural gas power-generating project. It’s cleaner power that’s better for the environment and better for Delaware.”
“Calpine’s Garrison Energy Center will be a state-of-the-art, natural gas-fired power plant producing reliable, affordable, clean power for central Delaware,” said Jack Fusco, Calpine’s CEO. “This is a win-win project made possible by the collaborative efforts between Calpine and the various stakeholders including the state and local authorities. This project also demonstrates the benefits of competitive electric markets by helping to ensure that Delawareans are not burdened with above-market costs associated with subsidized contracts, as has been the case in surrounding states, and that Delaware continues to have a competitive advantage in attracting business and jobs.”
“In bringing its Garrison Energy Center to Dover, along with more than 250 construction jobs and 16 permanent operating jobs, Calpine will be tapping into a Kent County employment base that is ready to roll up its sleeves and get to work,” said Alan Levin, director of the Delaware Economic Development Office.
A $2.5 million grant from the New Jobs Infrastructure Fund will help fund the construction of a six-mile natural gas pipeline extension to the Garrison Oak Technology Park. In addition to providing fuel to the plant, the pipeline will help spur development of other businesses in the park and improve the availability of natural gas for other businesses and consumers in central Delaware.
