Integrated Air and Water Permitting for Utility-Scale CCGT Facilities
Challenge
An energy company required comprehensive multimedia permitting services for two combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) plants in Louisiana. Each plant had a nominal rated capacity of approximately 980 MW. The CCGT units consisted of two natural gas combustion turbines with each turbine having a heat recovery steam generator (HRSG) equipped with duct burners and a steam turbine in a 2×1 configuration.
Solution
TRC prepared applications to obtain construction and operational air permits in compliance with state and federal regulations. This effort included coordination with the client, EPC contractor and local and state agencies to review changes in project design and appropriately address any impacts to the air dispersion modeling for NO2.
The changing project scope and general arrangement required an involved, continuous analysis to minimize the impact of the project footprint and associated construction areas on identified wetlands and waters of the US for the permitting process with the US Army Core and Louisiana DNR. The water permit application involved addressing 316(b) intake structure requirements and ensuring compliance with water discharge requirements through thermal modeling. Further, local requirements were identified and any changes by the local agencies were tracked that could impact the project during the permitting process.
Results
Through proactive communication, technical rigor and effective project management, TRC successfully obtained all required permits within the client’s expedited schedule, allowing both power generation projects to move forward as planned.