Puget Sound Energy, a utility subsidiary of Puget Energy, has acquired two formerly leased 74MW, natural gas-fired power generators at the utility’s Whitehorn generating station in Whatcom County, Washington.
Puget Sound Energy (PSE) bought the single-cycle, combustion-turbine generators for $22.6 million from Newark, New Jersey-based Public Service Resources Corporation. The utility has generated power with the two units since 1981 under a lease arrangement.
According to PSE, its Whitehorn facility is used primarily to provide back-up peaking energy during daily or seasonal spikes in PSE customers’ power usage. In addition, the facility’s turbines have quick-start capability, enabling them to reach full generating capacity quickly.
That capability can be critical to maintaining system reliability if a base load resource, such as a hydropower facility, suddenly drops off line because of a generator problem or transmission-line failure.
Paul Wiegand, vice president of power generation for PSE, said: These turbines perform a valuable role for us by ensuring electric supply during spikes in customer demand. By bringing them under PSE ownership, we can be assured of their continued availability for years to come.
