Martin Lake Power Plant
{{Infobox power station
|name = Martin Lake Power Plant
|image = Martin Lake Power Plant Tatum Texas 2019.jpg
|image_caption = Martin Lake Power Plant viewed from Martin Creek Lake State Park
|country = United States
|location = Rusk County, Texas
| coordinates = {{coord|32|15|42|N|94|33|53|W|display=inline,title}}
|owner = Luminant, a division of Vistra Corp
|status = O
|th_fuel_primary = Coal (Lignite)
|ps_cooling_source = Martin Lake
|th_technology =
|ps_combined_cycle =
|ps_electrical_capacity= 2,250
|commissioned = Unit 1: 1977
Unit 2: 1978
Unit 3: 1979
|decommissioned =
}}
Martin Lake Power Plant is a 2,250-megawatt coal power plant located southwest of Tatum, Texas, in Rusk County, Texas.{{cite web |url=https://www.puc.texas.gov/industry/electric/directories/pgc/report_pgc.aspx?ID=PGSQL01DB1245458100171 |title= Power Generation Report |publisher= Public Utility Commission of Texas |accessdate=June 15, 2017}} The plant is owned by Luminant.{{cite web |url=https://www.luminant.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/MartinLake_Facts.pdf |title=Martin Lake |publisher=Luminant |accessdate=June 3, 2017}} It began operations in 1977. The plant is also served by the Luminant owned Martin Lake Line, shuttling coal from nearby as well as the Powder River Basin in Wyoming via BNSF.
History
The plant consists of three units. Unit 1 was commissioned in 1977, Unit 2 in 1978, and Unit 3 in 1979. All three, when first activated, each unit had a capacity of 750 MW.{{cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/big-spring-herald-may-22-1977-p-9/|title=Power plant's appetite for lignite is ravenous|newspaper=Big Spring Herald|date=May 22, 1977|page=9A|via=https://newspaperarchive.com/|accessdate=February 15, 2018}}{{cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/crockett-houston-county-courier-may-04-1978-p-20/|title=Lignite-fueled power plants producing 35% of TP&L electricity|newspaper=The Houston County Courier|date=May 4, 1978|page=21|via=https://newspaperarchive.com/|accessdate=February 15, 2018}}{{cite web |url=http://www.puc.texas.gov/industry/maps/elecmaps/gentable.pdf|title=New Electric Generating Plants in Texas Since 1995|publisher= Public Utility Commission of Texas|date=December 31, 2013|accessdate=June 15, 2017}} Plans for a fourth, 858 MW coal unit at Martin Lake was formally cancelled in 1986.{{cite news|url=https://newspaperarchive.com/grandview-tribune-dec-05-1986-p-10/|title=New Estimates Announced for Nuclear Plant|newspaper=Grandview Tribune|date=December 5, 1986|page=10|via=https://newspaperarchive.com/|accessdate=February 15, 2018}} A man-made lake was created for the plant's cooling source.{{cite web|url=https://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/martin-creek-lake/park_history|title=Martin Creek Lake State Park History|publisher=Texas Parks & Wildlife Department|accessdate=February 15, 2018}} Martin Lake was retrofitted with selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems by Fluor in 2008 to reduce nitrogen oxide ({{NOx}}) emissions.{{cite news|url=https://www.environmentalleader.com/2008/02/luminant-details-emissions-reduction-plan/|title=Luminant Details Emissions Reduction Plan|publisher=Environmental Leader|last=Nastu|first=Paul|date=February 19, 2008|accessdate=February 15, 2018}}{{cite news|url=http://www.power-eng.com/articles/2008/04/fluor-to-provide-air-quality-upgrades.html|title=Fluor to provide air quality upgrades|publisher=Power Engineering|date=April 17, 2008|accessdate=February 15, 2018}}
Martin Lake receives its energy from nearby lignite mines and coal from the Powder River Basin in Wyoming. Martin Lake used to receive lignite from the Oak Hill and Beckville Mines in nearby Rusk and Panola Counties until their closures.{{cite news|url=https://www.news-journal.com/news/2016/oct/17/report-luminant-laying-132-workers-december/|title=Luminant closing Oak Hill mine, laying off 132 workers by Dec. 16|last=Isaac|first=Jimmy Daniell|newspaper=Longview News-Journal|date=October 17, 2016|accessdate=February 15, 2018}}
One of Martin Lake's units was idled in September 2013 due to low electricity prices.{{cite news|url=https://stateimpact.npr.org/texas/2013/09/20/a-changing-market-and-dim-future-for-coal-in-texas/|title=A Changing Market and Dim Future for Coal in Texas|last=Henry|first=Terrence|publisher=State Impact|date=September 20, 2013|accessdate=February 15, 2018}} The unit was restarted in March 2014 as electricity prices rose during the 2014 North American cold wave.{{cite news|url=http://www.power-eng.com/articles/2014/02/luminant-will-reopen-3-coal-fired-plants-ahead-of-schedule.html|title=Luminant will reopen 3 coal-fired plants ahead of schedule|publisher=Power Engineering|date=February 5, 2014|accessdate=February 15, 2018}}
Incidents
In February 2017, a contractor died in an accident at the site.{{cite web |url=http://www.wlox.com/story/34539455/one-person-dead-after-accident-at-the-martin-lake-power-plant-in-tatum |title=One person dead after accident at the Martin Lake Power Plant in Tatum |publisher=WLOX|date=February 18, 2017|accessdate=June 3, 2017}}
See also
{{Portal|Texas|Energy}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.luminant.com/generation-2/martin-lake-power-plant/ Luminant page for Martin Lake Power Plant]
Category:Energy infrastructure completed in 1977
Category:Energy infrastructure completed in 1978
Category:Energy infrastructure completed in 1979
Category:Coal-fired power stations in Texas
Category:Buildings and structures in Rusk County, Texas
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