An application for construction was approved in 2005. Construction should begin in 2006 and be completed in 2010.
LG&E LLC is a Louisville-based power company.
The existing energy producing facility in Trimble County began operation in 1990 and has a 514 MW capacity. The new generating facility would have a capacity of 750 MW and cost approximately $1.2 billion. The plant is designed as a “super-critical” pulverized coal plant, meaning that the boiler water is subjected to intense heat and pressure until the water turns directly to vapor without boiling. This would result in increased efficiency in electrical generation
As a pulverized coal plant, the Trimble County facility will pollute heavily, emitting thousands of tons of particulates, SO2, NOx, CO2 and mercury.
The Trimble County plant is unusual in that LG&E have decided to limit the total plant emssions to those produced by the existing facility. To this end, plant designers are implementing sufficient pollution controls on the existing units to allow the new plant to pollute. However, the company has also imposed relatively low caps on the SO2 and NOx emissions from the new addition. It is unknown at this time precisely which pollution controls will be applied to the new unit.
The Kentucky River runs south next to Trimble County. It may be hypothesized that the river water is used for cooling purposes.
In addition to its base cost of $1.2 billion, the construction of the plant is expected to create 700 to 800 jobs over a four year period.
The Trimble County plant has been permitted, and construction is expected to begin in 2006. Construction will be completed around 2010. The plant should have a lifespan of thirty years or more.
