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EPA Finalizes Greenhouse Gas Permit for Guadalupe Power; Additions will bring over an estimated $125 million in capital investments and increased jobs

Release Date: 12/04/2014
Contact Information: Joe Hubbard or Jennah Durant at 214-665-2200 or r6press@epa.gov

DALLAS – (Nov. 3, 2014) Today, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final greenhouse gas (GHG) Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) construction permit to Guadalupe Power Partners L.P., to add two gas-fired turbines to their existing facility. The natural gas-fired plant is located in Guadalupe County, 30 miles northeast of San Antonio, Texas.

“We continue to assist Texas’ energy sector in meeting increased demand and reducing harmful greenhouse gas emissions,” said EPA Regional Administrator Ron Curry. “This facility will consume less fuel than older plants, which will cut cost and lower their carbon foot print—a win-win for everyone.”

Guadalupe Power will add two simple-cycle combustion turbines of 227 megawatts electric generating capacity to the existing 1,000 megawatt station. The project will provide peak capacity by providing quick return during high electric demand periods. The project will also add a new firewater pump engine and circuit breakers. The total greenhouse emissions from the proposed project will be 611,655.16 tons annually of CO2e. Additions will bring over $125 million in capital investments and increased jobs.

In June 2010, EPA finalized national GHG regulations, which specify that beginning on Jan. 2, 2011, projects that substantially increase GHG emissions require an air permit.

Since Jan. 2, 2011, projects in Texas that increase GHG emissions required an air permit from the EPA. In Texas alone, EPA has received 86 GHG permit applications from businesses since 2011. Texas is No. 1 in the country for receiving EPA-issued GHG permits – with over 60 permits being issued by EPA.

On Oct. 31, 2014, EPA announced both its approval of the state air plan and the withdrawal of the federal air plan making Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) the primary GHG permitting authority in Texas. The approval became effective upon publication in the Federal Register on Nov. 10. This action eliminates the need for businesses to seek air permits from two separate regulatory agencies in Texas and moves the permitting program to TCEQ.

EPA and TCEQ will continue to work closely with pending permit applicants during the transition period and ensure no unnecessary project delays result from this action. At the request of businesses in Texas, EPA will complete work on 4 permit applications and the remaining 18 applications have been transferred to TCEQ.

For all of the latest information on GHG permits in Texas please visit: https://yosemite.epa.gov/r6/Apermit.nsf/AirP

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