Tontitown, Springdale Working On Water For Power Plant
Last updated Thursday, January 10, 2008 9:14 PM CST in News
By Bob Caudle
THE MORNING NEWS
The easy part was building a peak power plant in Tontitown. The hard part is getting enough water to the site to cool the turbines.
Tontitown purchases its water from Springdale. The problem is getting water lines to carry the extra water to the site, according to Rene Langston, executive director for the Springdale Water Utilities Department.
"We've been talking with Tontitown on how to increase water supply to the west side of Springdale, which is where their (Tontitown) water comes from," Langston said. "We're working right now on a major line to go under Interstate 540."
The Water and Sewer Commission has authorized a water rate study for the cost of selling water to Tontitown and Cave Springs, Langston said.
"We can't sell them surplus water anymore because we don't have any surplus water," Langston said.
Bill Brandt, chairman of the Tontitown Water and Sewer Commission, said his group is awaiting the Springdale study.
"The plant itself will pay for the water it uses," Brandt said. "We're in the process of getting information to Springdale for their study."
Langston said the water contract between the power plant and Tontitown is being handled by Tontitown officials.
"That's not to say we haven't been involved," Langston said. "But we have yet to revise our contract with Tontitown to reflect the volume they're going to need for the new plant. Those talks are on-going right now."
Chuck Nickle, an engineer with USI Consulting Engineers of Springdale, said his firm is in the process of preparing a 10-to 20-year forecast for Springdale water officials to use. Tontitown retains USI as its consulting agency on water and sewer issues.
"We're getting ready to do some modeling based on 500 gallons per minute for the power plant and using projections for Tontitown's population growth," Nickle said. "The numbers will be preliminary, but it should be enough to get the process started."
Nickle said Tontitown and Springdale have agreed and have the capacity to supply the plant during this summer's peak power usage times.
After testing is completed on additional equipment at the Mattison Power Plant in the spring of 2008, the plant's capacity will be 170 megawatts.
When complete, the $131 million four units project will have a total capacity of 340 megawatts. The possibility of adding more capacity at the site will be evaluated.
American Electric Power's Southwestern Electric Power Company announced plans May 31, 2006, to build up to 480 megawatts of peak generation at Tontitown.
Peak facilities are used primarily to meet higher demand during summer months when heat and humidity lead to increased air conditioning use and demand on the electric system.
The plant is managed and operated by staff at SWEPCO's nearby Flint Creek Power Plant in Gentry, where Dan Lee is plant manager.
The facility is named for Harry D. Mattison, who was president and chief executive officer of SWEPCO from 1988 through 1990.
FAST FACT
Harry D. Mattison Plant
Southwestern Electric Power Co. began commercial operation of Units 1 and 2 of the new Harry D. Mattison Power Plant at Tontitown Dec. 28. The plant consists of four natural gas-fueled combustion turbines. SWEPCO began commercial operation of Units 3 and 4 on July 12.
Source: Staff Report
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