Bechtel to Transition Coal-to-Natural Gas Power Plant Site in U.S.

Bechtel, a global leader in engineering, procurement, and construction, has been selected by Panda Power Funds to build a new 1,124-megawatt combined-cycle, electric generating facility as part of one of the largest coal-to-natural gas power site conversion projects in the United States.

The Hummel Station project will be located at the former site of the coal-fired Sunbury power plant near Shamokin Dam in Snyder County, Pennsylvania. The 400-megawatt, 65-year old Sunbury plant was retired in 2014, clearing the way for the utilization of more efficient and environmentally-sensitive power generation technology.

“The state-of-the-art Hummel generating station will use the latest, most advanced emissions-control technology, making it one of the cleanest natural gas-fueled power plants in the nation,” said Scott Osborne, general manager for Bechtel’s power business. “It will supply nearly twice as much power as the coal plant it replaces and key air emissions will be reduced by more than 90%.”

Bechtel is providing project management, engineering, procurement, construction, and startup services for the new power plant, while its consortium partner, Siemens, is responsible for the primary power generation technologies, including the combustion and steam turbines, generators, and heat recovery steam generators. Construction is due to start in November 2015 and will take approximately 30 months. Once complete the plant will power approximately one million homes in Philadelphia and the New York metropolitan area. The facility is Bechtel’s fifth combined-cycle plant for Panda Power Funds.

“The natural gas revolution has arrived in the heart of coal country,” said Todd Carter, president and senior partner of Panda Power Funds. “I’m proud Panda is leading the way toward clean natural gas-fueled generation. We’re ready to take what we’ve learned in Pennsylvania and apply it to other coal-fired projects across the nation.”

Some 900 jobs will be created during construction, as well as around 35 long-term jobs to operate the plant. A further 52 jobs are also likely to be created within the community to support the plant.

Bechtel is a global leader in the design and execution of complex power projects.

Bechtel is a global leader in the design and execution of complex power projects and has been at the forefront of the power industry for more than 60 years. The company has successfully completed combined-cycle projects all over the world, including in the United States, United Kingdom, Egypt, India, Turkey and Mexico.