While Associated Electric Cooperative continues to develop renewable power and energy efficiency measures as important resources for meeting member systems' energy requirements, those resources will not be enough to meet members' growing electricity needs. To ensure continued reliability, Associated is constructing the Chouteau 2 combined-cycle natural gas plant in the Mid-America Industrial Park, Pryor, Okla.

Combined-cycle plants are among the most efficient type of gas plants with very low emissions. These combined-cycle units have greater efficiency than simple-cycle combustion turbine units because they employ both a steam turbine and a combustion turbine to power the generators.

Emissions limits for the Chouteau 2 plant are among the strictest ever issued in the country for combined-cycle gas plants, according to the air permit Associated received from the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Utilities Service also issued July 24 a finding of no significant impact (FONSI) for the Chouteau 2 plant, allowing the project to continue on schedule to meet members’ growing energy needs.

In conjunction with the power plant, Associated is constructing a 33-mile gas pipeline that will provide gas delivery capacity for the plant.

The Chouteau 2 project is expected to be complete in 2011. Associated awarded the engineering, procurement and construction contract to Kiewit-TIC, a joint venture between Kiewit Energy Co. and The Industrial Co.