SALEM TOWNSHIP — Elected officials, community representatives, development, construction and operations partners, as well as employees of the Caithness Moxie Freedom Generating Station celebrated the official ribbon-cutting for the state-of-the-art facility today in Luzerne County.
The billion-dollar Freedom Generating Station operates two highly efficient GE H-class gas turbine units that produce approximately 1,050 megawatts of efficient electric power — the electricity equivalent to meet the needs of approximately 900,000 homes locally and throughout the region.
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“We are proud of the investment Caithness has made in this region, and we will continue to be a significant employer and committed community partner,” said Ross Ain, president, Caithness Energy. “The positive impact this project will have in the region — from construction jobs and investment to efficient operation and long-term tax revenue generated to the township and school district — will be realized for many years ahead.”
Using state-of-the-art technology, the plant is the highest-efficiency user of natural gas in the region. The plant’s dry-cooling technology means that water usage is 95 percent lower than that of a plant of the same size using traditional cooling technology. Additionally, a 1,050-megawatt, highly efficient combined cycle plant such as Freedom reduces CO2 emissions by 3.2 million tons per year compared to the older steam plants.
During construction, employment peaked at more than 650 workers per day at the site. It took more than 2 million man hours to complete construction while remaining vigilant of the highest safety and environmental standards.
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“We are very appreciative of the support we received from elected officials, environmental agencies and the community.We are extremely thankful to our partners and the hundreds of men and women who have worked tirelessly with our team to bring the Freedom Generating Station to commercial operation,” Ain said.
The Freedom Generating Station transitioned to commercial operation in September 2018.
At present, the Freedom team, composed of Caithness Energy, Moxie Energy and Gemma Power Systems, has supported several public improvement projects in Salem Township and the surrounding area. In total, Freedom’s support of completed projects and future commitments surpasses $800,000. This philanthropic partnership with the community will continue with a long-term commitment to the Salem Township Volunteer Fire Department, as well as continued support of other local initiatives.
For more information about the project, visit www.caithnessmoxiefreedom.com.