WYGEN II - The Finest Power Generation in Wyoming

INTRODUCING WYGEN II

Black Hills Corporation is proud to announce the construction of Wygen II, a 90 megawatt power plant located at our Wyodak Energy Complex outside Gillette, Wyoming. This facility extends our Company’s strong tradition of providing reliable, value-priced power to our customers while safeguarding our environment and conserving our natural resources.

Wygen II will provide power to Cheyenne for decades to come. But our investment of financial resources, time and know-how serves more than just producing energy to meet the needs of our region. We believe we are partners with both the private and public sectors, where we serve our customers, communities and government in many ways – providing safe, reliable and affordable energy, creating jobs and payrolls, volunteering and contributing to worthy charitable and civic activities; and supporting local, state and federal government programs by paying our fair share of taxes.

Wygen II, like its companion facilities, will be an exemplary facility, where technology is harnessed to deliver operational efficiency and dependability. It also will be an outstanding model of emissions control, as we pledge to make this facility one of the cleanest coal-fired plants anywhere.

 

  • Utilizing leading edge technology
  • Employing best available environmental emissions control
  • Conserving natural resources
  • Converting Powder River Basin coal into electrical energy
  • Delivering value to Wyoming customers
  • Creating jobs
  • Contributing taxes
  • Stimulating economic development


WYGEN II CONTROL FEATURES

We are committed to abiding by Wyoming’s strict air quality standards and making Wygen II the best power plant of its kind. By utilizing latest available technology, a number of remarkable improvements over earlier coal-fired designs will be achieved. Among them are these:

  • Mercury abatement. Wygen II will be among the first plants ever to install mercury control technology and comply with new rules to curtail mercury emissions. Total removal is expected to be 60%.
  • NOx reduction. New burner technology lowers emissions by half, compared to standards just five years ago. Total removal: 65%.
  • SO2 reduction. Sulfur emissions will be reduced by 41% compared to five-year old technology. Total removal: 94%.
  • Particulate control. New filtration and control systems will eliminate 99.99% of ash from the air.
  • Water conservation. All our Wyodak power plants utilize air-cooled condensing, a technology we brought to North America decades ago and perfected for applications here. We use 93% less water than conven- tional power plant water cooling systems.
  • Detection systems. We will install a Continuous Monitoring System that will observe and analyze 98% of Wygen II’s operations. This system will further improve our efficiency and reliability.

Black Hills Corporation brought air-cooled condensing technology to North America in the 1960s and adapted it to fit our climate. With this application, we use a small fraction of water compared to typical industry standards. These fans cool hot water that is recycled for use in the power generation process again.

 

POWDER RIVER BASIN COAL

Wygen II is located right at our Wyodak Resources mine and will utilize its coal for fuel. Wyodak is the oldest continuously operated coal mine in the Powder River Basin and has been going strong for over 82 years.

The power plant will consume about 500,000 tons per year. This coal is well-suited as a fuel for generation. It is naturally low in sulfur content. The coal is crushed and transported via conveyor from the mine to a storage bin. To maximize its efficiency and enhance emissions control, it is pulverized into a very small size with a consistency of talcum powder before injection into the furnace.

 

ASH AND EMISSIONS

We take environmental compliance seriously. Wygen II will utilize the best available emissions control technology. In fact, over $50 million – one third of the total project cost – is to acquire and install environmental equipment and monitoring systems.

The investment is worth it, and we fully comply with Wyoming’s strict air quality standards. Wygen II will be among the first plants to significantly reduce mercury emissions. A selective catalytic reactor removes nitrous oxide emissions from flue gas. A scrubber – spray dry absorber – removes sulfur. Fly ash is virtually eliminated by a sophisticated filtering system. Ash is deposited as part of our land reclamation program.

CONTROL SYSTEM

Thanks to advances in computer and systems tech-nology, power plant operators can run 98 percent of Wygen II equipment right from the control room interface station. We also have backup systems in place to assure 24/7 operations. Continuous monitoring, detection and assessment – combined with the rapid response of our highly skilled technical staff – contribute to high levels of plant reliability and efficiency.

 

WYGEN II SPEC SHEET

  • Energy: 90 megawatts of baseload power generation, to contribute electric power to our 31,000+ Cheyenne customers.
  • Cost: $169 million.
  • Design: Wygen II is the third power plant of its kind – a proven economical, efficient and reliable model. Neil Simpson II and Wygen I are its sister plants located at the Wyodak energy complex near Gillette.
  • Construction jobs: up to 400 during 2-year building project.
  • Estimated permanent jobs: 20.
  • Estimated local and state taxes: $1 million annually including property, sales and use, and severance taxes.
  • Expected useful life: at least 40 years.
  • Emissions control: substantially eliminates nitrogen, sulfur and mercury compounds as well as ash.

 

 

About Black Hills Corporation

We are a diversified energy Company with operations focused in the West. Wholesale nonregu- lated energy activity is conducted through our Black Hills Energy subsidiary. It consists of power generation, coal mining, natural gas and oil production, and energy marketing. Retail operations include Cheyenne Light, Fuel & Power, an electric and gas distribution utility serving the Cheyenne, Wyoming vicinity and Black Hills Power, the electric utility serving western South Dakota and parts of Wyoming and Montana.