FAQs
What
is the project?
The Bowie
Power Station is a 1,000 megawatt, natural gas fueled combined-cycle
facility. At full build-out he project would generate enough power to
serve 250,000 homes. We expect to build the project in two phases of
up to 500 megawatts each.
Where
would the plant be located?
The site
is in southeast Arizona (80 miles east of Tucson) in Cochise County.
It's 2 miles north of I-10 and the community of Bowie. The project site
and surrounding area are primarily agricultural. The area was chosen
because of its remote location, proximity to existing natural gas lines
and transmission infrastructure, rail and freeway access, available
land and adequate water supplies.
When
will it be built?
Each project
phase will take approximately 3-4 years to complete. We are currently
revising the project's construction schedule and will provide updates
as they become available.
How
many jobs will the facility create?
In Cochise
County alone, there will be 500-600 construction jobs. When the plant
is operational, it will employ 20-40 fulltime workers representing a
permanent payroll projected to be $1 - $2 million annually. Additionally,
the state of Arizona will see increased employment indirectly from related
industries and services that will benefit. We will work with local schools
and colleges to train and hire locally.
How
can one apply for a construction job or one of the fulltime jobs?
Please refer
to the Contact Us page for details.
How
much new tax revenue will the facility create?
The plant
represents a capital investment in Cochise County totalling several
hundred million dollars. As a result, we expect that the Bowie Power
Station will become the largest taxpayer in the County. This will cause
the overall residential property tax burden in the County to be reduced
because of millions of new tax dollars the facility will pay. It will
generate direct and indirect local tax revenue to support schools, police,
fire, libraries and the Cochise County general fund. Additionally, the
state of Arizona will benefit from new tax revenue generated by the
facility.
How
clean is a natural gas power facility compared to others, such as pulverized
coal?
Natural gas
facilities are significantly cleaner. In fact, natural gas is the only
type of fossil fuel-based generation facility that could be successfully
permitted today in California, which has the most stringent air quality
regulations of any state. Bowie Power Station meets California’s
air emissions standards and will be among the cleanest in Arizona, incorporating
the latest in emission control technology that exists today.
Why
is water necessary for the operation of the facility?
Water is
used to produce steam which generates additional electricity and to
cool the steam after it’s used in the steam turbine. Water is
cycled through the plant numerous times after traveling through adjacent
cooling towers. Water recycling is incorporated to maximize efficiency
and minimize use. It eventually ends up in a large lined pond where
it harmlessly evaporates back into the atmosphere.
Can
the facility use as much water as it wants?
No. Strict
limits on groundwater withdrawal for the Bowie Power Station are set
by state regulators in a permit to construct and operate the plant.
The permitted use is less than historical agriculture operations at
the site. A detailed hydrology report was developed and used by the
Arizona Corporation Commission to support the permitting of the facility.
Groundwater funds totaling $1 million for the life of the facility,
as well as a rigid monitoring program in conjunction with the Department
of Water Resources and other state/county agencies will provide long-term
assurances to protect other groundwater users.
Can
a solar energy plant be incorporated onto the site?
Solar energy is becoming an important
part of Arizona’s electric generation plans and we want to be
a part of it. The natural gas facility opens the door for solar energy
at the site and makes solar energy production more cost-effective because
access to the necessary electrical transmission and natural gas delivery
infrastructure can be shared at the site. In fact, it is our intention
to respond to requests-for-proposals seeking concentrating solar thermal
power. If we’re successful in securing a contract, there will
be a large solar footprint at the site.
Why
is SWPG planning new generation?
To meet the increasing electricity demands of current
and forecasted growth in Arizona, new sources of power are needed. Deregulation
of the utility industry has created a competitive market for providing
that power. This is particularly the case in growing residential, commercial,
and industrial loads in Arizona.
Are
any other power plants planned for Cochise County?
No power
projects besides the Bowie Power Station have been announced in Cochise
County. There is one large, existing power generation facility in Cochise
County near the Town of Willcox. This 520 megawatt coal-fired facility,
known as the Apache Generating Station, is owned and operated by Arizona
Electric Power Cooperative.
Who
is SouthWestern Power Group?
SouthWestern
Power Group is a Phoenix-based company that develops and, through affiliates
constructs, owns and operates gas-fired power plants throughout the
United States. For the past 30 years, SouthWestern’s staff has
been involved in the siting, environmental permitting, design, engineering,
construction, financing and operations of power plants, power distribution
systems and transmission facilities, both domestically and internationally.
For more information, go to: www.SouthWesternPower.com.
|