Monticello Steam Electric Station
{{Infobox power station
|name = Monticello Steam Electric Station
|image =
|image_caption =
|country = United States
|location = Titus County, southwest of Mount Pleasant, Texas
| coordinates = {{coord|33|5|28|N|95|2|17|W|type:landmark_scale:10000_region:US|display=inline,title}}
|owner = Luminant
|status = D
|th_fuel_primary = Coal
|ps_cooling_source = artificial Lake Monticello on Big Cypress Bayou
|th_technology = Steam turbine
|ps_combined_cycle =
|ps_electrical_capacity= 1,880 MW
|commissioned = Unit 1: December, 1974
Unit 2: December, 1975
Unit 3: August, 1978
|decommissioned = Units 1–3: January, 2018
}}
The Monticello Steam Electric Station was a 1.88-gigawatt coal-fired power plant located southwest of Mount Pleasant, in Titus County, Texas, US from 1974 to 2018.
History
Monticello had three units. Unit 1 began operations in 1974, Unit 2 became operational in 1975, and Unit 3, became operational in 1978.{{cite web|title = Existing Electric Generating Units in the United States, 2006|publisher = Energy Information Administration, U.S. Department of Energy|year = 2006|url = http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/page/capacity/capacity.html|format = Excel|doi = |accessdate = 2008-07-14}} Originally, the plant produced electricity by burning lignite from nearby mines in Texas. Later the plant received rail shipments of coal solely from Peabody Energy's Rawhide Mine in the Powder River Basin of Wyoming.{{cite news|url=https://www.marketwatch.com/story/how-texas-coal-plant-closure-affects-peabody-energy-2017-10-13|title=How Texas Coal Plant Closure Affects Peabody Energy|work=24/7 Wall St.|publisher=MarketWatch|date=October 13, 2017|accessdate=November 3, 2017}}{{cite news|url=https://www.news-journal.com/news/2016/feb/29/luminant-closing-mines-laying-off-80/|title=Luminant closing mines, laying off 80|newspaper=Longview News-Journal|date=February 29, 2016|accessdate=October 23, 2017}} The plant was cooled by Lake Monticello, which also offers fishing and recreational facilities. The plant was owned by Luminant, a division of Energy Future Holdings.Luminant (2010). [http://www.luminant.com/plants/pdf/Monticello_Facts.pdf "Monticello Power Plant and Mines."] It was operated by Vistra Energy.{{cite news|url=http://www.chron.com/business/energy/article/Vistra-closing-mega-coal-plant-in-East-Texas-12258064.php|title=Vistra closing mega coal plant in East Texas|last=Osborne|first=James|newspaper=Houston Chronicle|date=October 6, 2017|accessdate=October 6, 2017}}
Selective non-catalytic reduction (SNCR) systems were retrofitted by Fluor to Monticello's units in 2008.{{cite news|url=https://www.environmentalleader.com/2008/02/luminant-details-emissions-reduction-plan/|title=Luminant Details Emissions Reduction Plan|last=Nastu|first=Paul|publisher=Environmental Leader|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}} This retrofit complimented the LO-NOx burners already installed at Monticello to reduce nitrogen oxide ({{NOx}}) emissions. In November 2011, Luminant announced that, rather than retrofitting, they would permanently idle Units 1 and 2 to comply with the United States Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Cross-State Air Pollution Rule.{{cite web|url=https://www.luminant.com/an-update-on-the-cross-state-air-pollution-rule-from-david-campbell/|title=An Update on the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule from David Campbell|last=Campbell|first=David|publisher=Luminant|date=November 18, 2011|accessdate=October 16, 2017}} With two units of the plant being idled, Luminant halted lignite extraction at nearby Sulphur Springs and Mount Pleasant Mines.{{cite news|url=http://www.wacotrib.com/news/business/freestone-coal-mine-to-close-costing-about-jobs/article_8b617ac1-0370-5daf-9a06-0574c1487c0c.html|title=Freestone coal mine to close, costing about 200 jobs |last=Smith|first=J.B.|newspaper=Waco Tribune-Herald|date=September 13, 2011|accessdate=October 22, 2017}} It later restarted the units in March 2014 due increased demand for power generation from the 2014 North American cold wave.{{cite news|url=https://www.dallasnews.com/business/energy/2014/02/04/luminant-to-reopen-3-coal-plants-early|title=Luminant to reopen 3 coal plants early|last=Osborne|first=James|newspaper=The Dallas Morning News|date=February 2014|accessdate=October 6, 2017}} Luminant made the decision in 2014 that Monticello would rely on coal solely from the Powder River Basin beginning in 2016.
Closure
Vistra announced in October 2017 that all three units would cease power generation in January 2018 due to advancements in renewable energy and a glut of natural gas depressing wholesale power prices. The Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT) permitted the closure of Monticello at a hearing in November 2017.{{cite news|url=http://www.chron.com/business/energy/article/State-will-decide-in-mid-December-if-Texas-needs-12323854.php|title=Texas letting one coal plant shutter, undecided on two others|last=Blum|first=Jordan|newspaper=Houston Chronicle|date=November 1, 2017|accessdate=November 1, 2017}} The closure was scheduled for January 4, 2018.
See also
{{Portal|Texas|Energy}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.luminant.com/generation/monticello-power-plant/ Luminant page for Monticello Power Plant]
Category:Energy infrastructure completed in 1974
Category:Energy infrastructure completed in 1975
Category:Energy infrastructure completed in 1978
Category:Buildings and structures in Titus County, Texas
Category:Former coal-fired power stations in Texas
Category:1974 establishments in Texas