Oklahoma Gas & Electric proposes plan to replace aging units

On Wednesday, Oklahoma Gas and Electric Company (OG&E) asked the Oklahoma Corporation Commission (OCC) to approve its plan to replace aging power units in eastern Oklahoma.

The two units at Horseshoe Lake Power Plant in Oklahoma County will be upgraded to newer, more efficient units to improve reliability, efficiency, and operational flexibility, as well as lower emission rates. OG&E said the plan provided the lowest reasonable cost for customers.

“We’ve seen tremendous growth across our service area as the communities we serve continue to thrive,” said Sean Trauschke, OGE Energy Corp. chairman, president & CEO. “With affordability for our customers top of mind, adding combustion turbines at our existing Horseshoe Lake facility, with its highly skilled workforce, provides our customers the most cost-effective option to meet their energy needs.”

The gas-fired units being replaced are the oldest in OG&E’s generation fleet and have generated energy for more than 60 years. OG&E is proposing to replace them with new gas-fired combustion turbines. The new units will provide OG&E with approximately 450 megawatts of generation capacity.

Additionally, the units can be turned on and off quickly, allowing them to provide power during peak times. The new combustion turbines will burn hydrogen, officials said, once it becomes available as fuel and could be converted to use hydrogen as their primary fuel source. The new units will add to the company’s investment in renewable and low-emission power generation sources.

“Our service area enjoys plentiful options for power generation, including renewables and natural gas, and yet we operate in states prone to severe weather, making resiliency a critical component of our power generation decisions,” Trauschke said. “With this in mind, we always look for opportunities that help us balance resiliency and reliability needs for our customers. The Horseshoe Lake investment is an exciting opportunity to provide increased reliable and resilient electric service to our customers as we continue to plan for the future.”