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W.S. Lee Station running as a natural gas plant

Staff Report //April 9, 2018//

W.S. Lee Station running as a natural gas plant

Staff Report //April 9, 2018//

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Duke Energy's new 750-megawatt combined-cycle natural gas plant at the W.S. Lee Station in Anderson County began serving customers on April 5. Construction of the $700 million plant started in March 2015.

The new unit receives natural gas through a new dedicated pipeline that branches off the transcontinental mainline. Crews installed the new one-mile pipeline and associated metering and compression equipment on existing Duke Energy Carolinas and Piedmont Natural Gas rights of way, according to a news release.

Duke Energy closed two coal-fired units at the W.S. Lee Station in 2014 and converted a third coal unit to natural gas in 2015. The company no longer operates any plants in South Carolina that use coal as fuel, the release said.

"Investing in a smarter, more efficient energy future through projects like the new W.S. Lee plant is more than just good business, it's an investment in our state that helps attract jobs and industry and make our economy and communities stronger," said Kodwo Ghartey-Tagoe, Duke Energy state president for South Carolina, in the release. "This project represents a long-term commitment to South Carolina — a $700 million investment in the station, environment and surrounding communities."

The W.S. Lee project has benefited more than 150 companies locally, in South Carolina, across the U.S. and around the world, according to the release. During the height of construction, the project created more than 600 temporary construction jobs and provided about $12 million in work to local subcontractors. In all, crews poured about 23,000 cubic yards of concrete — enough to fill eight Olympic-size swimming pools — placed 436 miles of cable and wire and installed 29 miles of underground pipe and conduit.