As reported, environmental groups are protesting new coal-fired plants in Texas. However, the Sandow 5 power plant was completed after a legal battle between environmental groups and Alcoa, which owned power plants to support its nearby smelter operation.
In early July, the power unit began producing power, but due to weather-related construction delays and equipment malfunctions, the unit’s full operation was postponed until late September.
Bill Luyties, project manager of Sandow 5 told Reuters: “Sandow 5 is a significant new generation source to help meet our future electric demands.”
According to Texas regulators, the state needs additional coal-fired units in order to reduce its dependency on electricity from natural gas.
Alcoa was allowed by a federal court consent decree reached in 2003 to build the Sandow 5 power unit if the company replaced two dirtier coal units. Luminant stepped in to buy the right to build the Sandow 5 coal-fired plant, the news agency reported.
