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PEORIA, IL – Caterpillar Inc. announces today that SMMPA has signed an agreement to purchase four G16CM34 natural gas fired generator sets to replace an inefficient oil and gas- fired steam plant located in Fairmont, Minnesota. The new Cat ® medium speed reciprocating engines will work in conjunction with SMMPA’s existing 12 MW of dual-fuel reciprocating engine capacity to restore the plant’s original permitted capacity of 37 MW.
Caterpillar Power Generation Systems (CPGS), part of the Electric Power division of Caterpillar Inc., executed the agreement with SMMPA in December 2011. Ziegler Cat, the Cat dealer servicing this region, was instrumental in helping CPGS secure this important project. The project is scheduled to begin May 1, 2012 to enable final completion by December 2013.
Use of Caterpillar flexible generation technology will enable SMMPA to improve system reliability by offering the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator (MISO) market a variety of ancillary services. The new plant will also provide excellent fuel efficiency (even during partial load operation) and environmental benefits including low water consumption and compliance with strict emissions regulations.
The Fairmont Energy Station project is the third power plant in the U.S. in which CPGS is installing its natural gas fired generator sets, each using medium speed reciprocating engine technology. “We believe that our flexible power generation technology, combined with our U.S.-based after-sales support team, represent an attractive solution; particularly in areas served by high amounts of wind power generation. We are proud to be working with SMMPA on their Fairmont Energy Station project and look forward to adding to our installed capacity in the months ahead,” said Clive Nickolay, managing director of CPGS.
Dave Geschwind, SMMPA executive director and CEO said, “We look forward to having this reliable, efficient, and flexible generation resource in SMMPA’s member community of Fairmont. We’re glad to be working with CPGS and Ziegler Cat who we know will provide the high level of product quality and service that our members need.”
CPGS offers a range of electric power generation solutions including engineered equipment, turnkey power plants, financing, and customized operations and maintenance programs. CPGS power plants are fueled by natural gas and liquid fuels such as traditional fossil fuels and a variety of renewable fuels including biodiesel and raw vegetable oil. CPGS power plants are located throughout the world with some individual facility outputs in excess of 100 MW.
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