Alstom Joins Forum on the Future of America's Installed Power Plants
Alstom Joins Forum on the Future of America's Installed Power Plants
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Alstom yesterday joined approximately 80 politicians, utility representatives and industry leaders for a daylong forum on the future of Americas existing power plants. The event was hosted by the Institute of Clean Air Companies, the Gas Turbine Association, the Coal Utilization Research Council and the American Boiler Manufacturers Association, made possible with support from Alstom, featured presentations and panel discussions on the future of the nations 6,500 + power plants.
Panel sessions included:
- The Value & Critical Role of the U.S. Power Fleet
- Environmental Issues & the Existing Fleet
- The Reality & Impacts of Plant Retirements
One if the key themes repeated throughout the event was the reality that many of Americas power plants are being retired. Low gas prices, low capacity prices in competitive markets and new climate requirements have forced many of America's older, less efficient coal plants into retirement," stated William Tyndall, SVP, at Duke Energy.
Throughout the panel discussions speakers stressed how utilities and power generators need to adapt to their operations and increase flexibility to accommodate intermittent renewable energy sources and the push for increase generation from natural gas. Another important topic during the day's discussion was the Environmental Protection Agencys (EPA) Mercury & Air Toxics Standards (MATS). According to Joseph Goffman, Senior Counsel for the Office of Air and Radiation for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, that agency's goal is to keep economic enterprises running smoothly while ensuring the pollution levels are kept to healthy levels."
Although the EPA is working closely with states, the industry, and other stakeholder's, to establish pollution standards, broader uncertainty is making the installed base more critical than ever. In his closing remarks Pierre Gauthier, President, Alstom U.S. & Canada stated that capital is best used to restore and retrofit the existing fleet. This also means that there is a need to invest in R&D for all fuel types to improve efficiency, reliability, and sustainability of the existing fleets.