US generating capacity rose by almost 2 GW in March

U.S. generating capacity rose by a net 1,982 MW in March, as 1,997 MW of new operating capacity was completed and 15 MW of capacity was permanently retired, according to S&P Global Market Intelligence data.

A total of 14 generation units entered service, while six units were taken offline. Wind accounted for 81.1%, or 1,620 MW, of completed capacity, while biomass accounted for all of the 15 MW of retired capacity.

Six new power plant units with a total capacity of 2,400 MW were proposed, including a large onshore wind facility and a multiunit pumped storage hydro plant.

Completed

The 999-MW Traverse Wind Energy Center (North Central Energy Facilities) in Custer County, Okla., was the largest single generating plant added in March. The facility is jointly owned by American Electric Power Co. Inc. utility subsidiaries Southwestern Electric Power Co. and Public Service Co. of Oklahoma. It is the third and final project belonging to the North Central Wind facilities developed by Invenergy LLC and GE Renewable Energy, each of which was sold to the AEP utilities once in service. Completion of the expansive Traverse wind project amplifies the command wind has taken in the Southwest Power Pool in the last five years.

The 298-MW Haystack Wind Project in Wayne County, Neb., was the next-largest addition. The plant was acquired by Ørsted A/S in October of 2020 and its output will be sold to PepsiCo Inc., Hormel Foods Corp. and Target Corp. through long-term power purchase agreements.

Announced

The 800-MW Salmon Falls Wind Project topped the list of announced projects in March. The project, to be located in Twin Falls County, Idaho, is owned by LS Power Group subsidiary Magic Valley Energy LLC. It has an estimated cost of $1.36 billion, with completion expected in 2026.

Duke Energy Corp. subsidiary Duke Energy Carolinas LLC's announced the Bad Creek II Complex located in the foothills of the Blue Ridge mountains in Oconee County, S.C. It includes four, 350-MW pumped storage units totaling 1,400 MW. It is slated to enter service in 2033 and is an expansion of its existing 1,500-MW Bad Creek Pumped Storage Project, which is currently being upgraded and seeking relicensing for extended use. Duke Energy is conducting a feasibility study on the additional pumped storage capacity this year. The planned project is part of Duke Energy's goal to reach net-zero by 2050.

Retired

Hoosier Energy Rural Electric Cooperative Inc.'s closing of six 2.5-MW units at its biomass-powered Orchard Hills Facility (Winnebago-Ogle) in Ogle County, Ill., accounted for the only unit retirements during the month of March.

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