An aerial photo of the coal-fired Hugh L. Spurlock station in Mason County. The utility plans to convert its generation units to co-fire natural gas. (Screenshot)
A Kentucky electric utility is planning a significant expansion of natural-gas fired power including the conversion of existing coal-fired plants, a move that mirrors similar plans by other electric utilities serving the state.
East Kentucky Power Cooperative (EKPC) leaders at a Somerset gathering Thursday announced their plans to build two new natural gas-fired power plants and convert its two existing coal-fired power plants — one of two power generation units at the John Cooper Sherman Power Station in Pulaski County and all four units at the Hugh L. Spurlock Power Station in Mason County — to “co-fire” natural gas. That means the plants could burn both coal and natural gas. The converted Spurlock units could burn up to 50% natural gas, while the converted Sherman unit could burn entirely natural gas.
An EKPC news release says the conversions are an effort to abide by Biden administration rules that aim to curb nearly all climate-warming greenhouse gas emissions from existing coal-fired power plants and new natural gas-fired power plants, thereby protecting the utility’s “ most dependable electric-generating resources.” EKPC is supporting an ongoing federal lawsuit against the rules.