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Gulf Power Considering Conversion Of Plant Crist To Natural Gas, Pipeline Through North Escambia
February 7, 2019
EXCLUSIVE — A Gulf Power document first obtained by NorthEscambia.com shows the company is analyzing the feasibility of a proposed natural gas pipeline though North Escambia to convert Plant Crist from coal to natural gas.
“An underground natural gas pipeline to Plant Crist would give it the capability to run completely on natural gas,” the power company document states.
“We are analyzing the feasibility of a proposed underground pipeline that would deliver more natural gas to Gulf Power’s Plant Crist so that it has the capability to run entirely on natural gas. The conversion to natural gas would significantly lower carbon emissions and help lower costs to customers through lower operating costs.”
The proposed natural gas pipeline will run about 39 miles from the existing Florida Gas Transmission Pipeline near the Florida/Alabama border outside Century south through McDavid, Molino and Cantonment to Plant Crist on Pate Street just northwest of the University of West Florida. Over 85 percent of the proposed route would be located on existing corridors like Gulf Power transmission line corridors.
A project timeline shows permitting beginning by May of this year, construction beginning in early 2020 and the pipeline in service by mid 2020.
“Gulf Power is conducting land surveying to determine the best, most appropriate route for the pipeline. The pipeline will undergo a comprehensive review by numerous local, state and federal agencies to ensure it complies with all environmental and regulatory standards,” the document states.
The Gulf Power document indicates the conversion of Plant Crist to natural gas would mean cleaner energy and projected lower bills for customers. It is estimated the project would create 375 “good-paying” jobs at peak construction and $37 million in tax revenue for Escambia County during the 35-year operating life of the pipeline.
Pictured: Images from a Gulf Power document relating to a natural gas pipeline through North Escambia for the conversion of Plant Crist to natural gas. NorthEscambia.com images, click to enlarge.
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28 Responses to “Gulf Power Considering Conversion Of Plant Crist To Natural Gas, Pipeline Through North Escambia”
Just so you know,
The customer will pay for the “cleaner” plant.
Once the combined cycle plant is operational, Gulf will have substantial burden to bring about a rate case before the state. Recent projects, depending on the number of units, have reached the 1 to 1.5 billion dollar mark. Expect at least a 15% increase in your bill.
Everyone here needs to realize when ALL of these decisions that were made by Gulf Power in the past were done by Southern Company… Gulf Powers owners prior to being sold to Nextera Energy. Nextera will lower your bills, and provide very reliable forms of power generation. Nextera is the future of clean energy for our state, and nation.
Where can I find the EXACT route of the pipeline? I want to know if my property is going to be effected or lucky enough that the pipeline will be rerouted around my neighborhood.
Why have I not received a letter from Gulf Power informing me of this pipeline? The first time I learned of this was when I received a letter of eminent domain from an attorney. I live in Molino and my property value will most definitely be effected. I want to know when will Gulf Power notify me?
I guess I’ll start looking for a lawyer.
I for one am one of the many that will be effected by this. Concerns are loss value, utilizing a huge footprint of my property, that yes They say they will give dollars for. I do have safety concerns, health concerns, Long term benefit possibilities? I understand that no financial burden comes upon the citizens while the project is being developed and worked, but the communities will end up paying. Will the land owners get a ” Break” for being a part of this Transmission use? IE: monthly rebate or money for land use? The more I think about this, the more questions arise.
They are going around asking for right away and offering a little of money but the contract they give says they will pay 10$. Don’t sign unless you just want to lose the rights to the land for 10$
Gulf power have a existing easement on my property for the power line on the east side of my property now want another easement on the Westside five hundred feet apart lock me in and controlled my land they have state land on the existing easement they want used that its public land instead they want to lock me and devalue my property something ant right going on here
Whatever you might think about Gulf Power, pay attention to this story. THIS is why coal is a dying industry:
“The conversion to natural gas would significantly lower carbon emissions and help lower cost”
Not because of anything any liberals are doing. It’s cheaper and cleaner, bottom line. Those coal mining jobs aren’t coming back, no matter what anyone tells you. Neither are those high-paying union assembly line jobs that robots are now doing.
The problem lies in thinking it was supposed to scrub carbon dioxide. The name “flue gas desulfurization project” should suggest the real goal.
From:
https://www.upi.com/Gulf-Power-cleans-up-coal-fired-plant/35001176233566/
“…process is expected to remove about 95 percent of the sulfur dioxides and chlorides, 70 percent of the particulates and 80 percent of the mercury oxides from the emissions.”
Understand that using natural gas should remove all of those and reduce carbon dioxide emissions around 50%.
(Nuclear would remove all those as well as reduce mining deaths.)
David for safer energy
This is not your old Gulf Power any longer. It is FP&L. Affectionately called Florida Plunder and Loot by we native South Floridians.
Charlie, im sorry I researched the cost and we actually paid $650,000,000 when it all shook out…”the utility paid $650 million in 2005 to install a state-of-the-art scrubber system at it most powerful facility, the coal-burning James F. Crist plant in northwest Pensacola.-PNJ article from 2014
Charlie, yes after it was all said and done they got to charge us almost $500,000,000 500 million bucks…Heck, 200 miles of line, 700 poles and 400 transformers are costing us $350,000,000
I’m smart enough to know if Gulf Power thinks it will save money, they know more than it than I do about it.
Likely more to this story. We need transparency about the use planned for 5000 acres GPCO purchased in North Escambia. Natural Gas pipeline might just have a connection.
@MR REALITY—Did you really mean $500 MILLION, (Half a Billion dollars) with that many zeroes?
Natural Gas Conversion? Look closely, and you will likely see this new natural gas pipeline right of way spur onto the 5000 acres GPCO purchased in Mc David. The spur will likely be a slip stream feed from a Bio-Mass facility on the acreage. No nuclear plant will be built unless the acreage is used for a very large water reservoir. Nope GARBAGE DUMP ( Bio Mass Remediation) is more likely. Methane gas generated from Bio Mass Remediation would be compressed and pumped into the pipeline. If the county commissioners are not already in on this little project they will step up now and ask questions. What every the plan is the citizens of Escambia County should know. Transparency would be welcomed
when they put the new last power line in made it wider threw my place now if do this gas line it be put in on the side i live and be less 40 ft from end of trailer where we sleep now . all they want do mess up more land we pay taxes on and want make there path wider each time they come threw . when they did for the last power lines said we be good no more room for nothing else threw there now lets throw a gas line and dig up more land and let it wash away look like a mud pit after. power wheelchair cant go threw mud pit getting out my yard if put line in. use all the gas lines on hwy 29 they put in there two lines on 29 whats wrong with them lines
The big question is WHY did GP insist on staying with coal AND why switch NOW after we psent all the money to burn clean coal??? HUMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMMM
At Cantonment; Apparently you did not receive a letter that the land owners along the proposed route received. It stated that they could use eminent domain if the owner was opposed to them using their land. Yes it will be run along existing right of ways but that does not mean they will not take more property from the owners to run the line. Most of the existing right of ways that the power company runs their power on, already has other underground utilities buried beneath the power lines. The pipeline will not be run directly under the power distribution lines but will be along side them. This will encroach even more on the private property of the land owners, which will result in lower property values, and in my case, less land to grow trees on. So while G.P can declare eminent domain and take property from individuals so they can increase their profit margins the individual property owners will suffer the loss, and continue to pay taxes on the property that is being used by the power company. And don’t think the consumer will see a reduction in their power bill, this is for the bottom line and their profit.
But that will go against someone’s promise to bring coal mining back . …/s
If 85% of the route runs through existing corridors, I have no problem with it. People seem to ignore the fact that it’s going to be running through existing property. They can’t use eminent domain either, so they’ll have to either purchase the land or use public lands for it.
Don’t freak out.
I want one of the old Century meters also. I am with Phil also nuclear power, they already bought the land.
Just think how cheap the bill would be if it went thru centurys gas department , LOL
Oh no…. I can hear it now; “Not in my backyard”
price increase coming soon! Phil for nuclear power………
Makes sense except for the pipeline that was laid along
hwy 29 not long ago. Does it not provide enough cu. ft to
supply Crist ? If not why not ? Is long range planning missing
or intentional? Rate payers gonna pay for new pipeline ? With
cost saving and less emissions this is a no brainer..
Wait how much did we pay for the carbon scrubber system…$500,000,000…UNREAL!!! There should be some accountabulity!!!