Richmond County Energy Complex ground breaking at Hamlet, N.C.

In order to better serve our customers, protect the environment and prepare for the energy future, Progress Energy is making investments to power the economies of the areas we serve.

Progress Energy Carolinas recently announced we will build a new $900 million unit at the H. F. Lee Energy Complex near Goldsboro, N.C., then retire three coal-fired units at the Lee Plant in 2013. Once online, the new plant will increase the amount of electricity produced at the site while reducing overall emissions. It is expected to create up to 500 construction jobs over the 24-month construction process.

"This is an important milestone for our company and for our state," said Lloyd Yates, president and CEO of Progress Energy Carolinas. "The coal-fired units at the Lee Plant have been producing electricity reliably and cost-effectively for our customers for more than 50 years, but as emission targets continue to change, and as legislation to reduce carbon emissions appears likely, we believe in this case, it's in the best interest of our customers to invest in advanced-design, cleaner-burning generation for the future.

The new unit will be a 950-megawatt, 3-on-1 combined-cycle power block, a state-of-the-art system that uses the waste heat generated by three combustion turbines to generate steam that turns another turbine. The highly efficient power block thus generates more energy using the same amount of fuel. The plan also will involve the construction of a natural gas pipeline to the site in Wayne County. This pipeline will extend natural gas supply deeper into eastern North Carolina and will be a catalyst for economic growth and development.

Projects of this size provide both immediate and long-term benefits to communities. For instance, the new natural-gas fired unit at Progress Energy Carolinas’ Richmond County Energy Complex near Hamlet, N.C., will not only generate 500 jobs during construction, it will create 12 permanent jobs and increase the company’s county tax contribution by $2 million. The Richmond County unit is expected to come on line in mid-2011.