Invenergy blasted out a press release yesterday to announce that their 1,480 megawatt, $1 billion Marcellus gas-fired electric plant, called the Lackawanna Energy Center (located near Scranton, PA) is now fully, 100%, online.
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On Sunday, Dec. 23, residents living near the Lackawanna Energy Center (LEC) in Jessup, PA (near Scranton) woke to a loud noise that sounded like a jet engine–and the release of natural gas into the air.
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We love a good railroad story–always have, always will. And here’s a great railroad story. The freight trains in northeastern Pennsylvania will this year, once again, set a new record. Last year the Delaware-Lackawanna Railroad, which operates 85 miles of track in Lackawanna and Monroe counties, hauled 8,572 carloads. This year they will fly by that number, to a new record. Why? Mainly due to frack sand used by Linde Corp, which supplies sand to drillers in the region. Translation: Drilling picked up again in 2018 in northeastern PA.
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Antis on the Jessup (near Scranton, PA) Town Council delight in grilling officials from the Lackawanna Energy Center (LEC) at each monthly board meeting. LEC is a 1,480 megawatt, $1 billion Marcellus gas-fired electric plant still under construction, now 97% complete. When the plant is done it will be Pennsylvania’s largest natural gas-fired electric generating plant. The plant is being built in three trains or units. The first train/unit was done and online producing electricity since June–despite the efforts of a local group of antis who seized power of the local town board last November (see Jessup Town Board Continues Effort to Stop Gas-Fired Elec Plant). The second train went online in late July/early August. The third train will go online this month–in September. Cabot Oil & Gas is supplying all of the gas for the plant from neighboring Susquehanna County. At the monthly Jessup Council meeting last night, anti board members needled and smeared an LEC rep, implying LEC is hiding problems at the plant. Since May, when the plant began testing, there have been six releases of nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions that exceeded state standards. On July 31, the plant exceeded the NOx standard of 2.0 parts-per-million (ppm) by a razor thin 0.1 ppm–for a whole 10 minutes. Which is a nothingburger. And yet the anti board members jumped all over LEC for not phoning up the neighbors the minute it happened…
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It’s been some time since we’ve checked in on Invenergy’s massive Lackawanna Energy Center, a 1,480 megawatt plant under construction in Jessup, PA (near Scranton). The project will cost “well over $1 billion” according to an exclusive MDN source working on the project. When the plant is done it will be Pennsylvania’s largest natural gas-fired electric generating plant. The plant is being built in three trains or units. The good news is that the first train/unit is done and has been online producing electricity since June–despite the efforts of a local group of antis who seized power of the local town board last November (see Jessup Town Board Continues Effort to Stop Gas-Fired Elec Plant). Cabot Oil & Gas is supplying all of the gas for the plant from neighboring Susquehanna County. The second unit is in the process of going online now, and the third will be online in September. According to Invenergy, the plant is on time and under budget. Here’s more on this exciting new customer for a huge quantity of northeastern PA Marcellus gas…
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Tucked away in the comments made by Cabot Oil & Gas CEO Dan Dinges on an investor conference call last Friday, MDN picked up on what we consider big news: Both the Moxie Freedom (Luzerne County, Wilkes-Barre area) and Lackawanna Energy Center (Lackawanna County, Scranton area) Marcellus-fired power plants are about to go fully operational–sometime in May (by June 1). Both plants will exclusively use Marcellus gas extracted by Cabot in Susquehanna County, PA. For nearly a year the plan had been for Moxie Freedom to be built and online in May of this year, so that announcement isn’t so much a surprise as it is welcomed news (see NEPA Moxie Freedom Power Plant on Track for May 2018 Launch). However, in March we reported Lackawanna was going through a “short” commissioning stage and would be firing up at any time (see Gas-Fired Power Plant Near Scranton Nears Startup; Yellow Smoke). The Lackawanna project has faced fierce local resistance. A group of Democrats got themselves elected to the local town board in Jessup, taking office in January, trying their best to block startup of the Lackawanna project by employing a Big Green lawyer (who works for Riverkeeper) at a cost to taxpayers of $225/hour. Looks like it was wasted money as Dinges says Lackawanna will be operational, with large volumes of Cabot gas flowing to it, within weeks…
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Antis in the Scranton suburb of Jessup just won’t leave it alone. They’re mad they can’t stop what will be the state’s largest natural gas-fired electric plant (fed by Marcellus gas) from coming online–and they’ve turned their anger on the state Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP). As we reported two weeks ago, a puff of yellow “smoke” (more like vapor) was seen coming from the plant for a brief period of time and it sent antis into an apoplectic shock (see Gas-Fired Power Plant Near Scranton Nears Startup; Yellow Smoke and More on Yellow Smoke Coming from Gas-Fired Plant Near Scranton). According to Invenergy, the builder of the 1,480-megawatt Lackawanna Energy Center in Jessup, there were “no chemicals” involved in the yellow smoke. The only people reporting ill health affects from the yellow smoke were antis. Nobody else seems to have been affected by it. Maybe Invenergy secretly put something in the smoke that only affects antis? Inquiring minds want to know. Apparently the DEP isn’t inquiring fast enough nor deep enough for Jessup antis, who have their knickers in a twist…
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We spoke too soon. In a story MDN published yesterday, we said that Big Green propagandist mouthpiece PBS StateImpact Pennsylvania was the only “news” outlet reporting on “yellow smoke” released as part of the commissioning process for the Lackawanna Energy Center, a Marcellus gas-fired electric plant being built near Scranton (see Gas-Fired Power Plant Near Scranton Nears Startup; Yellow Smoke). We said yesterday that not even the Democrat-controlled Scranton Times-Tribune found the “yellow smoke” report newsworthy. A day later, the Times-Tribune was shamed into releasing a story about it. Once again, the only people quoted as experiencing ill health effects following the “yellow smoke” are long-time local activists, people who oppose the project…
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Invenergy is currently building the Lackawanna Energy Center, a 1,480 megawatt plant in Jessup, PA (near Scranton) that will cost “well over $1 billion” according to an exclusive MDN source working on the project. When the plant is completed (first phase now done), and when it goes online (to be determined), it will be Pennsylvania’s largest natural gas-fired electric generating plant. As with all fossil fuel-related projects, there is a dedicated (small) group of antis attempting to stop the project. They frequently conduct smear campaigns, making all sorts of wild claims, in their futile attempt to stop the project. Here’s the latest example. The plant is, this week, going through a “short” commissioning stage–a time when they test the machinery in preparation to begin operations. As part of the commissioning, there is a “visible vapor plume and audible noise”–but NO chemicals are involved. Yet a local, well-known anti, upon seeing a waft of “yellow smoke” coming from the plant, immediately claimed she felt “burning [in] my nose, throat, sinuses and chest”–even though no chemicals were used during testing. What does that tell you about the veracity of the antis opposed to the plant?…
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Invenergy is currently building the Lackawanna Energy Center, a 1,480 megawatt plant in Jessup, PA (near Scranton) that will cost “well over $1 billion” according to an exclusive MDN source working on the project. When the plant is done (first phase ready sometime this month), and when it goes online (to be determined), it will be Pennsylvania’s largest natural gas-fired electric generating plant. Unfortunately, a group of Democrats got themselves elected to the Jessup Borough Council specifically to try and block the completion of the project (see Jessup Town Board Continues Effort to Stop Gas-Fired Elec Plant). They just took office in January and already have thrown up roadblocks. Wednesday the PA Dept. of Environmental Protection held a hearing about the facility’s potential impacts on local (and regional) air quality. Some three dozen folks showed up to trash talk the project. They’re questioning the plant’s Emission Reduction Credits (ERC). This plant will put some bad stuff in the air (small quantities), as all electric generating plants do. In order to “offset” the negatives of putting those small quantities of bad stuff in the air, the plant must purchase ERCs. That is, someone somewhere else will sell their “right” to emit the same bad stuff (i.e. pollute) in return for cash. That’s a grossly oversimplified and perhaps not totally accurate way to say it–but it serves the purpose of understanding the complex issue of ERCs. At the DEP hearing, those who oppose the plant were questioning the ERCs for this facility. Their argument is, maybe the air quality in the entire region will benefit from having a clean-burning natgas-fired plant, but will that benefit for the region (and country) be at the expense of making the air worse for the neighbors who live near the plant? As much as we disagree with those who oppose this project, their question is valid and important…
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We don’t know how many times we have to keep ringing the bell–this is a five-alarm situation! Wake up! A group of Democrats elected to the Jessup, PA Borough Council (Scranton suburb) are actively trying to block the completion of the state’s largest natural gas-fired electric generating plant–the first phase of which will be ready to go online in a little over a month. A bunch of ninny nanny antis didn’t like that they couldn’t stop the project, so they used money and help from Big Green groups last November to launch successful campaigns to defeat incumbent Council members who voted to authorize the Lackawanna Energy Center to be built by Invenergy (see Scranton Antis Get Political Revenge for Gas-Fired Power Plant). A new majority of anti-power plant radicals took office last week and wasted no time in attempting to slow (or stop) the project (see New Town Board Tries to Stop Nearly-Done Gas-Fired Plant in Jessup). Yesterday, Jessup Council members voted unanimously to hire the same attorney used by Big Green group Delaware Riverkeeper, Jordan Yeager, to “investigate” a request by Invenergy to flush 56,000 gallons of heated water (used to cool the plant) per day down the municipal sewer system. Council voted, unanimously, to pay Yeager and another attorney from the same Big Green law firm $225 per hour for their “expertise” in reviewing Invenergy’s request. No doubt the new council members are hoping Yeager can figure out a way to deny Invenergy’s request and perhaps kill the plant–or at the very least delay the project as long as possible. That seems to be the strategy here. Why else would Jessup Council hire a Big Green lawyer like Yeager? This is NOT a good faith effort to work with Invenergy, as some Council members pretend. It is a bad faith effort to screw Invenergy and stop the plant…
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Just yesterday MDN warned you about a group of antis who had seized political control in the Pennsylvania borough of Jessup, where Invenergy is nearing completion of the state’s largest natural gas-fired electric generating plant (see PA’s Largest NatGas-Fired Elec Plant Near Scranton Nears Startup). True to form, no sooner than the antis were sworn in, they began to throw up roadblocks to completing the Lackawanna Energy Center project. As we explained yesterday, Invenergy has filed a request with Jessup to use the borough’s sewer system to dispose of up to 56,600 gallons of “wastewater” (heated water) per day. The first thing the new board did was to hire a radical, far-left attorney (who also represents the odious Delaware Riverkeeper) to “review” Invenergy’s request. It’s a total sham. Jessup’s new Council President, Gerald Crinella, lied through his teeth when he said, “What we’re looking to do is have an expert look at it and say, ‘What other options are available?’ What are the pros and cons of them? What are the costs associated with them?” The aim of hiring the Riverkeeper attorney is to STOP this project and has nothing to do with being extra careful. Council is supposed to vote by Jan. 15 on Invenergy’s request to use the sewer system in order for the project to remain on track. The yesterday decided to ask Invenergy to delay the Jan. 15 date–the classic first move antis always make. First delay, then deny. We predict a lawsuit will swiftly be filed by Invenergy, who will be ready to start the plant up in February…
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It’s been a long road, but we’re finally close to startup for the first phase of what will be Pennsylvania’s largest gas-fired electric generating plant near Scranton, PA. The Invenergy plant, dubbed the Lackawanna Energy Center (located in the community of Jessup), will produce 1,480 megawatts of electricity when it’s fully built and running. Construction crews are hard at work in frigid temperatures, working to complete the first of three combined-cycle generator units. The work is 80% done on the first unit and on track to be completed by February. The plant is certainly having an impact on locals–both good and bad. On the bad side, we previously reported that antis in the Jessup community exacted their revenge on local political leaders for approving the plant by removing them from office (see Scranton Antis Get Political Revenge for Gas-Fired Power Plant). Hey, it’s a hard knock life. On the positive side, when MDN editor Jim Willis was visiting family in the area over the Christmas holiday, he heard family members talking about the “huge” plant going up. And they’re happy about it! As we reported in early December, a pipeline to feed the plant is now almost done (see UGI Pipeline to Feed Scranton NatGas-Fired Power Plant “On Track”). However, there is a cloud on the horizon that may delay a February start. The antis that threw out previous town board members take their seats today. Invenegy needs a final town approval to hook up to the town’s sewer system to handle some 56,600 gallons of “wastewater” (heated water) per day. Look for the antis to make trouble and try to delay the approval. Here’s an update on PA’s biggest gas-fired electric plant, coming online (hopefully) soon…
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Yesterday MDN brought you the news that on Tuesday the latest effort to keep debating (and potentially pass) a horrible severance tax bill had failed by a single vote in the PA House (see 1 Vote Saves the Day – PA Severance Tax Vote Delayed to Next Year). Momentum is everything in these kinds of fights, and the severance tax bill has lost its momentum. It now will not be considered until at least Jan. 22 of next year. Democrats are fuming at the loss–a single vote! So they began scouring the list of those who voted for extending debate (and potentially voting to pass the bill), and found one of their own missed the vote. State Rep. Kevin Haggerty, Democrat from Scranton, didn’t show up for the vote–and he’s a reliable Big Left/Democrat voter. He assuredly would have voted to approve continuing the debate. Thing is, Haggerty has now missed 23 straight voting sessions and 300 roll call votes. So the long knives have come out for Haggerty. He blew it. And the Dems are fuming mad. Why has Haggerty missed so many days and so many votes? Because he’s going through a divorce and he needs to stay home with his two young children. If Haggerty were a woman–or a transgender–and made the same excuse for missing votes, Democrats would have been silent. Not a peep. But because Haggerty is a white male (the worst of the worst of the WORST), his fellow lefty Democrats are willing to boil him in political oil…
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Invenergy is currently building a state-of-the-art, combined cycle 1,480 megawatt Marcellus-fired electric generating plant in Jessup, PA, just outside Scranton. Construction on the plant–called the Lackawanna Energy Center–has been under way for well over a year now. Some 1,200 people are currently working at the site. MDN previously reported that Cabot Oil & Gas with their prolific Susquehanna County production will feed the plant (see Cabot Cuts Deal to Supply PA’s Largest NatGas-Fired Electric Plant). We also reported that two different companies are building pipelines to supply Cabot’s gas to the plant–UGI and Kinder Morgan’s Tennessee Gas Pipeline (see UGI to Feed Jessup, PA Electric Plant with Marcellus Shale Gas and NEPA Pipeline for Power Plant Gets Positive FERC Assessment). We have a pipeline update. Work on UGI’s pipeline began in May and is close to being done…
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Recently the profoundly biased mouthpiece for Big Green groups, PBS StateImpact Pennsylvania, ran an article about the political fallout around the construction of what will be Pennsylvania’s largest natural gas-fired electric generating plant, located near Scranton. Invenergy is currently building the Lackawanna Energy Center, a 1,480 megawatt plant in Jessup, PA that will cost “well over $1 billion” according to an exclusive MDN source working on the project. The PA Dept. of Environmental Protection (DEP) approved the plant in December 2015 (see PA DEP Approves Jessup, PA Marcellus Gas Electric Plant). The locals in Jessup approved the project in March 2016 (see Jessup Borough Final Approval for PA’s Largest NatGas Power Plant). The plant will use up to 240 million cubic feet (MMcf) of natural gas per day–provided by nearby Cabot Oil & Gas operations (see Cabot Cuts Deal to Supply PA’s Largest NatGas-Fired Electric Plant). It’s a win/win all the way around–except for NIMBY’s who live in Jessup and don’t want the plant in their “backyard.” The NIMBY’s couldn’t stop it, so they’ve done the next best thing. They mounted aggressive political campaigns to oust local town officials who approved the project. Unfortunately they were successful. What it means is that when the project is done, sometime in 2018, it will have to contend with local officials who are hostile to natural gas and toward the project–they can’t stop it, but they can hassle it. Such is the messy nature of our democracy…
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