Xcel Says Coal-Fired Texas Plant's Conversion to Natural Gas Nearly Complete

Xcel Energy said the company's coal-fired Harrington Generating Station in Amarillo, Texas should fully complete its transition to burning natural gas in May. Harrington, whose three units have 1,018 MW of generation capacity, was Xcel's first coal-fired power plant in Texas. It came online in 1976. The utility in 2020 made the decision to convert the plant to natural gas, calling it the most cost-effective way to meet federal government clean air standards. The power plant a decade ago was recognized with the Powder River Basin Coal Users' Group 2015 Plant of the Year Award. “Harrington Station has a five-decade history of providing low-cost, highly reliable service to our Texas and New Mexico customers, and we are proud to re-power this great asset and protect the jobs within our Xcel Energy operations,” said Bob Frenzel, Xcel Energy chairman, president and CEO, on Jan. 31. “Generating power with clean natural gas allows us to use a very flexible fuel source to provide energy to a rapidly growing customer base.” [caption id="attachment_228697" align="alignnone" width="600"]

Xcel Energy's Harrington Generating Station near Amarillo, Texas, has operated since 1976. The power plant's three coal-burning units, with 1,018 MW of generation capacity, will fully begin burning natural gas in May of this year. Source: POWER archives[/caption] The Minneapolis, Minnesota-based energy company said it looked at various ways to reduce emissions of sulfur dioxide at Harrington, and determined a full conversion to natural gas was the best option due to the age of the units. The utility said the plant was originally designed to burn both coal and natural gas, which has "significantly" lowered the expense of the conversion. Xcel will continue to use the existing boiler, steam turbines, and electric generators at the site. Units 2 and 3 were among the first to use baghouses to capture particulate matter from coal combustion. “Converting Harrington to natural gas not only helps Potter County meet air quality standards, but also leverages existing infrastructure to minimize costs,” said Adrian J. Rodriguez, president, Xcel Energy— Texas, New Mexico. “We strive to provide reliable and affordable electricity, and any savings from lower fuel costs will be passed on to our customers.” Data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration shows 13 coal-fired power plants, including Harrington, still operating in Texas. Seven coal-fired facilities, representing a total of about 6 GW of generation capacity, have been decommissioned since 2018. At least three other coal-fired plants are scheduled for retirement, or conversion to natural gas, in the next few years. Darrell Proctor is a senior editor for POWER.