DEP Approves First Natural Gas-fired Power Plant in Pennsylvania:

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) Wednesday issued an air quality plan approval to Moxie Liberty LLC of Vienna, VA., for construction of the first power plant in Pennsylvania to run on natural gas, including gas from the Marcellus Shale. The plant, which will generate up to 936 MW of electricity, will be built in Asylum Township, Bradford County. The project consists of two power blocks, with each block including a combustion gas turbine and a steam turbine. Each combined cycle process will be able to generate up to 468 MW of electricity and will also include a heat recovery steam generator and supplemental duct burners.

DEP staff's technical review determined that the proposed levels of air emissions satisfy federal and state best available control technology (BACT) and the lowest achievable emission rate (LAER) requirements. As part of the plan approval, Moxie was also required to perform air quality analyses and submit them to DEP for review. The agency determined that the proposed emissions from the plant will not cause or significantly contribute to air pollution in violation of national ambient air quality standards. Moxie officials estimate that construction will take between two-and-a-half and three years.

Moxie Patriot LLC, a sister company to Moxie Liberty LLC, has applied for an air quality plan approval for a similar facility to be built in Clinton Township, Lycoming County. DEP is reviewing the application.