The $775m St. Charles Energy combined-cycle natural gas-fired electric power generating facility is located 25 miles southeast of Washington, DC and will feature two GE 7F.05 gas turbines and a GE D402 steam turbine.
SNC Lavalin Constructors will build the project, which will be operated by EthosEnergy Power Plant Services.
The project will sell its capacity, energy and ancillary services into the transmission-constrained SWMAAC zone of the PJM market, offering enough electricity for about 700,000 homes.
Expected to create about 350-400 jobs during peak construction, the project will also provide about 24 well-paying permanent jobs upon completion.
CPV chief executive officer Doug Egan said: "Today’s groundbreaking is a major milestone for the CPV St. Charles Energy Center, Charles County and the people of the great state of Maryland.
"The positive benefits created by this project for the people of this region, have already begun and will continue for decades to come."
The CPV St. Charles Energy Center is expected to be one of the most efficient combined-cycle facilities in PJM upon completion.
Natural gas-fired power generation is expected to grow by 3.1% a year through 2038. This would add 348,000MW of gas-fired capacity to the US grid, according to a report by Black & Veatch.
Image: Natural gas-fired power generation is expected to grow by 3.1% a year through 2038 in the US. Photo: courtesy of supakitmod/Freedigitalphotos.net
