Talen Energy seeking contractor to bring natural gas to Montour plant

The Talen Energy Corp. announced on Tuesday that it is seeking to add co-firing capabilities to the Montour plant in Washingtonville, Pennsylvania, by securing natural gas, and is seeking a contractor to construct, own and operate a new pipeline to the facility.

Talen Energy’s board of directors recently approved the decision to convert the Montour plant into a dual-firing plant. When the project is complete, the facility will be able to operate on coal, natural gas or a combination of the two. The anticipated completion date, including necessary permitting, approval, engineering and design, is the second quarter of 2018.

“Montour is a significant asset in the Talen Energy fleet and we are making the necessary investments to improve its competitive position in the market,” Talen Energy President and CEO Paul Farr said “The Montour plant is located in close proximity to one of the largest natural gas formations in the world, the Marcellus Shale.  Co-firing the plant to burn natural gas, produced in Pennsylvania, enables Talen Energy to leverage the strategic location of the plant.”

Montour is a 1,500-megawatt plant. Talen Energy is currently in the process of reviewing RFP submissions to select a third party to construct, own and operate a 15-mile lateral pipeline that connects directly to the plant. The utility estimates the plant upgrades will total an estimated $70 million.