CHICAGO - One of two power generating units at the mostly bond-financed Prairie State Energy Campus in Illinois was damaged but the operating company said it was due to the accidental high release of steam, not a fire or explosion.
The Prairie State Generating Co. said in a May 28 statement that other unit at the coal-fired plant remains in operation and the damaged unit is expected to be repaired and in service "for most of the summer." The company did not immediately have a damage estimate. The plant was primarily financed with borrowing by eight Midwestern public utilities with an ownership stake.
"PSGC's power plant team is committed to maintaining its transparency with its member-owners and the customers they serve," said Duncan Kincheloe, PSGC's interim president. "The repair schedule will be updated on a regular basis."
The accident occurred when unit 2 was taken offline May 24 for scheduled maintenance. A water storage tank overflowed resulting in an unexpectedly high release of steam and water, causing damage. All of the employees and workers on site were safe. No explosion, fire or injuries occurred, the statement said. Neither the boiler nor the turbine generator was damaged.
PSGC's president and chief executive officer recently resigned. Kincheloe is serving as interim head during a search for a permanent replacement. The campus -- which includes an adjacent mine and a plant that generates 1600 megawatts of power -- is located in Washington County.
Public utilities in Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, and Ohio issued $4.5 billion of debt, some it under the federal Build America Bond program, to finance their participation. Higher-than-expected energy costs have prompted some local municipalities that purchase power from the utility participants to look for ways to exit their contracts.
