Southwestern Electric Power Co., a unit of American Electric Power (AEP, NYSE: AEP), said it has reached the 92 percent completion mark for the $1.7 billion, 600 MW John W. Turk coal-fired power plant in Arkansas, and the arrival of the first 135-unit Union Pacific coal train from Wyoming on May 30.

Construction on the plant began in November 2008 after SWEPCO received its air permit, but lawsuits and appeals from environmental groups delayed construction before a settlement was reached in December 2011.

“Construction has progressed to the point that most of the plant’s major components are now installed,” said Tim Gross, Turk plant manager. “We are starting now to work through the equipment start-up and commissioning process, such as firing the boilers and steam blows while keeping safety our number one priority as always.”

Some of the larger components include the water treatment plant, boiler, turbine, generator, substation, emission control equipment, cooling tower and material handling systems for coal unloading and storage.

The plant will use ultra-supercritical advanced coal combustion technology, and is expected to enter operations in December 2012.

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