WILLIAMSPORT, Pa. — The Department of Environmental Protection recently issued an air quality plan approval to Moxie Liberty LLC of Vienna, Va., for construction of the first new power plant in Pennsylvania to run at least partially on locally grown Marcellus Shale gas.

The plant, which will generate up to 936 megawatts of electricity, will be built in Asylum Township, Bradford County, and create 500 construction jobs at its peak.

Shale gas plant details

The project consists of two power blocks, with each block including a combustion gas turbine and a steam turbine. Each combined cycle process will be able to generate up to 468 megawatts of electricity and will also include a heat recovery steam generator and supplemental duct burners.

Waste heat from the two turbine generators will be converted to steam in two heat recovery generators and piped to the turbines. A large air-cooled condenser will convert the steam to condensed water that will be sent back to the heat recovery steam generators.

DEP staff’s technical review determined that the proposed levels of air emissions satisfy federal and state best available control technology and the lowest achievable emission rate requirements. As part of the plan approval, Moxie was also required to perform air quality analyses and submit them to DEP for review. The agency determined that the proposed emissions from the plant will not cause or significantly contribute to air pollution in violation of national ambient air quality standards.

Employment

Moxie expects that construction of the plant will create 500 jobs at its peak, with an average of 200 workers. About 30 permanent, highly paid technical jobs will be available once construction is complete. Moxie officials estimate that construction will take between two-and-a-half and three years.

DEP also issued an industrial stormwater permit for the plant and gave approval for the use of water as drinking water. Moxie Patriot LLC, a sister company to Moxie Liberty LLC, has applied for an air quality plan approval for a similar facility to be built in Clinton Township, Lycoming County. DEP is reviewing the application. For more information, visit www.dep.state.pa.us or call 570-327-3638.