Belle River Power Plant
| Belle River Power Plant | |
|---|---|
| Location | East China, Michigan |
| Coordinates | 42°46′26″N 82°29′42″W / 42.77389°N 82.495°WCoordinates: 42°46′26″N 82°29′42″W / 42.77389°N 82.495°W |
| Status | active |
| Commission date | 5 internal combustion generators: November, 1981 Unit 1 (coal): August, 1984 Unit 2 (coal): July, 1985 3 gas-fired turbines: September, 1999 |
| Owner(s) | Detroit Edison |
| Power station information | |
| Primary fuel | subbituminous coal, natural gas, distillate fuel oil |
| Generation units | 3 |
| Power generation information | |
| Maximum capacity | 1,664 MWe |
Belle River Power Plant is a major coal- and natural gas-fired power plant owned by Detroit Edison, a subsidiary of DTE Energy. It is located in St. Clair County, Michigan, on the peninsula formed by the St. Clair and Belle rivers. The plant was built across M-29 from the St. Clair Power Plant in East China, Michigan, and shares the coal delivery terminal with it. The Belle River plant shares cooling water from the St. Clair River with its sister plant. Five oil-fueled internal combustion generators (named IC1, IC2, 3, 4, and 5) were built in 1981, with the total output 13.75 megawatt. Coal-fired unit 1 of the Belle River plant was completed in 1984, followed by a similar unit 2 in 1985. Each unit has a nameplate capacity of 697.5 MWe, however the coal-fired plant as a whole generates 1260 MWe all year around. In 1999, three peaker natural-gas fired turbines (named 12-1, 12-2, and 13-1) were added, with the total name-plate capacity of 256 MWe.[1]
Belle River is Detroit Edison's third producer of electricity.[2] The power plant has a significant impact on the local economy, employing many residents.
[edit] Connection to the grid
The plant is connected to the power grid via numerous 345 and 120 kV transmission lines, both operated and maintained by ITC Transmission. There are 3 double-circuit 345kV Transmission Lines. Two of the three head west and one goes north to west and there it crosses Interstate 94 and goes north to west again where it connects to a 345kV line heading north to the Greenwood Energy Center, also owned by Detroit Edison. Another 345 kV transmission line interconnects with Hydro One.
[edit] Environmental impact
All of the waste heat generated by the plant (about twice its electrical output) is released into the St. Clair River.
[edit] References
- ^ "Existing Electric Generating Units in the United States, 2006" (Excel). Energy Information Administration, U.S. Department of Energy. 2006. http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/page/capacity/capacity.html. Retrieved 2008-07-14.
- ^ "Power Plants by State - DETROIT EDISON CO". www.powerplantjobs.com. http://www.powerplantjobs.com/ppj.nsf/PowerPlants2?Openform&cat=Detroit%20Edison%20Co&Count=500. Retrieved 2008-06-15.
