| Press Release Archive
Austin Energy, Enron announce completion
of Sand Hill Energy Center project
Austin Energy and Enron Sand Hill,
L.L.C., a subsidiary of Enron North America of Houston, today
dedicated the Sand Hill Energy Center in eastern Travis County.
The facility's four peaking units will provide180 megawatts
of electricity to meet the needs of the Austin community during
periods of high-energy demand.
The $93.7 million project is the first peaking
facility of its kind in Texas to be constructed with selective
catalytic reduction pollution control equipment that reduces
the nitrogen oxide emission (NOx) rate by 80 percent. NOx
emissions from the units are 5 parts per million (ppm), considerably
less than allowed under state and federal regulations.
In addition, the peaking units produce more
megawatts of electricity per unit of fuel consumed compared
to older, natural gas fired generating units. During testing
in recent weeks, the units produced 184 MW and consistently
emitted at or below 5 ppm of NOx.
"This project is both efficient and
environmentally friendly and represents a prudent next step
in meeting the energy demands of Austin," said Austin
Energy General Manager Chuck Manning.
Austin Energy operates and manages the facility.
Enron served as project manager during the development, engineering,
procurement and construction phase. Under terms of the joint
project, Austin Energy will acquire Enron's 100-megawatt share
in three years. Austin Energy is paying for the project with
revenues and will not increase base electric rates.
"Enron is proud to partner with Austin
Energy on what has proven to be an extraordinarily efficient
peaking power plant," said John Lavorato, president and
CEO, Enron Americas. "The facility performance test has
verified that the Sand Hill Energy Center's gas turbine generators
produce clean, reliable energy at a lower cost than other
units of its kind."
The Sand Hill Energy Center is located in
a remote area next to the South Austin Regional Wastewater
Treatment Plant on Fallwell Lane off of State Highway 71.
The Austin community has set 17 all-time
peak demand records during the past three years with peak
demand in the summer increasing by more than 300 megawatts
since 1998. The Austin area is the second fastest growing
region in the country next to Las Vegas.
Austin Energy is a community-owned utility
that provides electricity to more than 360,000 customers primarily
within the City of Austin. Austin Energy's portfolio includes
2,600 megawatts from a diverse generation mix including Sand
Hill, two gas-fired plants in Austin and part ownership of
the coal-fueled Fayette Power Project in La Grange, Texas,
and 16 percent ownership in the nuclear-powered South Texas
Project near Bay City, Texas. In addition, Austin Energy has
contracts for 100 megawatts of renewable energy from wind
power and methane gas from landfills.
Enron is one of the world's leading electricity,
natural gas and communications companies. The company, with
revenues of $101 billion in 2000, markets electricity and
natural gas, delivers physical commodities and financial and
risk management services to customers around the world, and
has developed an intelligent network platform to facilitate
online business. Fortune magazine has named Enron "America's
Most Innovative Company" for six consecutive years. Enron's
Internet address is www.enron.com. The stock is traded under
the ticker symbol "ENE."
For more information, contact Ed
Clark, Public Information.
Phone: (512) 322-6514
Pager: (512) 802-2000
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