The Imperial Irrigation District is moving forward with a major investment to replace its aging Unit 4 power plant at the El Centro Generating Station, expanding the District's ability to produce its own electricity and reducing its reliance on outside energy markets, it said on Nov. 4.
The IID Board of Directors approved nearly $115 million in equipment purchases for the project, a centerpiece of its Powering Our Community Together initiative to modernize aging infrastructure, strengthen reliability, and keep electricity cost-effective for customers.
Unit 4 has been in operation since 1968. Its nearly 60-year-old boiler and steam turbine, which have reached the end of their useful life, will be replaced with six modern, fast-start generators capable of producing approximately 113 megawatts of electricity, compared with the existing unit's roughly 70 megawatts.
"The increased capacity will give IID greater control over its electricity supply and reduce the need to purchase power from wholesale markets, where prices can fluctuate significantly. By producing more power locally, the District aims to limit its exposure to market volatility and help control electricity costs over the long term," the California public power utility said.
"Investing in our own generating capacity is one of the most important ways we can protect the long-term interests of our customers," said Karin Eugenio, Chairwoman of the IID Board of Directors. "This project will give IID greater energy independence, reduce our reliance on outside markets, and strengthen our ability to provide reliable, affordable electricity for decades to come."
The new generators will also produce fewer emissions than the existing equipment and can start quickly to meet periods of high electricity demand or support the integration of renewable energy into IID's power system.
The Board approved the purchase of six generators from Wärtsilä, estimated at $107 million, and two transformers from Lumiere Energy, estimated at nearly $8 million.
The action follows another major investment in IID's generating system. On November 3, the Board approved nearly $21 million to refurbish a generator at the Pilot Knob Hydroelectric Plant near Winterhaven, the District's largest hydroelectric facility.
"Together, the projects represent a substantial reinvestment in IID's existing power infrastructure, replacing and restoring equipment that has served customers for generations while strengthening the District's ability to provide reliable, affordable electricity in the years ahead," it said.
