GSA Technology Council

The environmental engineering and Earth sciences department at Clemson University has received a three-year, $400,000 faculty-development grant from the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) to help recruit and retain younger faculty in nuclear science.

Clemson is one of 16 U.S. universities to receive the faculty-development grants, which are given by the NRC to boost nuclear education and expand the work force in nuclear safety and nuclear-related disciplines.

“Maintaining a critical mass of faculty with academic training in the nuclear environmental engineering and science field is critical for the long-term viability of the program as well as for maintaining ABET ASAC accreditation of our environmental health physics program,” said Tanju Karanfil, head of the department and and co-principal investigator on the new grant. “This grant will be extremely helpful in keeping our program strong and strengthening the research capabilities of our faculty.”

The NRC grant program is devoted to developing the careers of junior faculty — those in the first six years of tenure-track jobs — in nuclear environmental engineering and science.

The Clemson grant will be devoted to a current radiochemistry assistant professor Brian Powell and to recruiting a new assistant professor in health physics to succeed Robert Fjeld, who recently retired. The new faculty member is to start in the fall.

“The new NRC Faculty Development Grant, coupled with existing NRC Education and NRC Fellowship Grants, will provide resources for the continued improvement and expansion of our very successful nuclear environmental engineering and science program and will establish an excellent base for Dr. Powell to establish a successful academic career,” said Timothy DeVol, co-principal investigator on the grant.

The timing of the grant is especially important for the state of South Carolina, where the nuclear industry is burgeoning, Karanfil said. A $4 billion mixed-oxide fuel facility at the Savannah River Site — a major component in the U.S. program to dispose of surplus weapons-grade plutonium — is scheduled to be completed by 2014, and the NRC recently granted 20-year license extensions to the commercial nuclear reactors in and around South Carolina.

With a significant portion of the current nuclear work force nearing retirement, academic programs in the field are especially important, Karanfil said.

The NRC faculty-development grants support such areas as research proposals, curriculum and course development, research equipment stipends, participation in professional societies and funding for graduate students to assist in establishing research programs.

The agency provides the grants to support education in nuclear science, engineering and related trades to develop a work force capable in the design, construction, operation and regulation of nuclear facilities, as well as the safe handling of nuclear materials.

via: Clemson University

InnoVenture Southeast 2010 will be held May 11 and 12, 2010, at the Carolina First Center in Greenville, SC. The theme of this year’s conference is “Creating the Future”.

“InnoVenture Southeast is all about making connections with people in our region who are among the world’s best at what they do. The conference is a unique opportunity to connect with people in and around each of the major anchors led by our keynote speakers,” said John Warner, founder and principal of InnoVenture LLC. “Understanding where these major drivers of our economy are heading creates business opportunities for all of us to help them and the organizations around them be successful.”

InnoVenture Southeast announces that seven senior leaders of major organizations will be keynote speakers this year.

– Harris Pastides, President of the University of South Carolina

– Don Herriott, Director of Innovista Partnerships, University of South Carolina

– John Kelly , VP for Public Service and Economic Development of Clemson University

– David Stafford, COO of the Michelin Americas Research Company

– Chris Desoiza, VP of the Milliken Research Corporation

– Ed Sellers, CEO of BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina

– Bill Mahoney, CEO of SCRA

In addition to the keynote speakers, InnoVenture Southeast will also have 60 champions from across academic, industry and entrepreneurs making eight minute elevator pitch presentations of the future they are creating and the expertise and resources they need to get there. Like the senior leaders presenting, these champions are also among the world’s best at what they do. A sample of champions presenting include:

Academic Leaders:

– John Ballato – Clemson University Advanced Materials Center

– Tom Vogt – NanoCenter at the University of South Carolina

– Hildy Teegen – Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina

– Paul Venhovens – Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research

Industry Leaders:

– Philip Wilson – Milliken & Company

– Bill Roberts – Sealed Air Corporation

– Jeff Archie – South Carolina Electric and Gas Nuclear Division

– Lonnie Emard – Consortium for Enterprise Systems Management

Entrepreneurial Leaders:

– Ralph Heredia – Zipit Wireless

– Jeff Granato – Proterra

– Michael Bolick – Lab21

– Chad Sands – NextGenEn

About InnoVenture Southeast

InnoVenture Southeast 2010 will be held May 11 and 12, 2010, at the Carolina First Center in Greenville, SC. The theme of this year’s conference is “Creating the Future”. In its seventh year, the conference is a show case of innovation, which connects innovation champions with the customers, capital, talent and technology they need to succeed.

Registration details and more information can be found at InnoVentureSoutheast.com

via: Innoventure Southeast

GE has received commitments to supply wind turbines for wind farms to be developed in Brazil that will add more than 400 megawatts of power to the country’s clean energy capacity. These projects will mark the debut of GE’s wind turbine technology in Brazil.

“This is Renova’s first move into the wind business and we were concerned about reliability and efficiency in our choice of technology”

In December of 2009, the Brazilian government held its first technology specific energy auction, focusing on wind power. In the past, the government has tendered 20-year power purchase agreements through energy auctions and until recently, these auctions allowed developers and utilities to use any power generation technology, including hydro, coal, natural gas, heavy fuel or renewables.

A total of just over 1.8 gigawatts of wind generation is planned for award to various developers and utilities. DESA—Dobreve Energia, S.A.—was successful in the auction with 144 megawatts to be built in the state of Rio Grande do Norte and Renova—Renova Energia, S.A. was successful with 270 megawatts to be built in the state of Bahia. Both DESA and Renova have selected GE’s 1.5 megawatt class wind turbines for use at the projects. All of the projects are expected to be in commercial operation by July of 2012.

“This is Renova’s first move into the wind business and we were concerned about reliability and efficiency in our choice of technology,” said Mr. Vasco Barcellos, CEO of Renova Energia. “GE understood our needs and brought its technical teams to work close with us in the final steps of development of our projects. This, definitely, was key to place Renova in a singular competitive position in the auction.”

According to Lindolfo Zimmer, CEO of DESA, “Wind farms are relatively new to the Brazilian energy market. We built a partnership with GE focused on getting the best technology matched with our technical needs. This extensive effort, which took months of working together, built a winning strategy vital to our entry into the Brazilian wind energy market.”

“We are very excited with the opportunity to be part of this milestone program, which will play a major role in helping Brazil diversify its energy supply and will bring economic development to the northeastern section of the country,” said Rafael Santana, CEO of GE Energy Latin American. “These projects will allow us to introduce our technology in Brazil, which offers a strong future for the development of wind energy.”

Brazil has relied heavily on hydropower for its electricity supply. The recent wind auction reinforces Brazil’s commitment to make wind power a mainstream source of energy as it continues to expand its renewables portfolio. Globally wind power continues to grow rapidly. The Global Wind Energy Council has predicted that the world’s wind energy capacity will nearly triple in the next five years, following a decade of double digit growth.

Brazil has vast, untapped wind resources, thanks in large part to strong wind conditions along the country’s 4,600-mile coastline. The Brazilian Wind Energy Association has set a goal of achieving 10 gigawatts of wind energy capacity by 2020. The country currently has 605 megawatts of wind capacity, with another 450 megawatts under construction.

The GE 1.5/1.6-megawatt class wind turbines slated for use in the Brazilian projects are the most widely deployed wind turbines in the world, with more than 13,500 presently in operation. These machines are an excellent fit for the wind regime in the northeast of Brazil.

via: GE Energy

The United States has an opportunity to move the world into a new industrial revolution. And that revolution must ensure the country’s future prosperity, the U.S. secretary of energy said Monday.

Speaking at a symposium hosted by the Clemson University Restoration Institute at the Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR), energy secretary Steven Chu said the world is changing and America must be a leader in the new “green economy.”

The price of oil will continue to rise, Chu said, and we all will live in what he called a carbon-constrained world. To prepare for this shift, the United States is investing $80 billion in the near-term to help drive the green economy, including money for research and development of alternative energy sources.

As part of that initiative, the energy department awarded the Restoration Institute and its partners a $45 million grant Nov. 23 to build and operate a large-scale wind turbine drive train testing facility at the institute’s research campus on the former Navy base in North Charleston.

The award was matched by $53 million in funding from public and private partners and is the largest single grant ever received by the university.

The facility could spark an offshore wind industry in South Carolina, Chu said.

“To do that we need reliable wind turbines,” he said. “To achieve our energy goals we need to act now.”

The cost of inaction is that the United States will forfeit the opportunity to assume the leadership role in the new economy, Chu said.

Sen. Lindsey Graham and the Restoration Institute invited the energy secretary for a one-day “Symposium on Energy: Building Intellectual Capital for a Green Economy.”

The country is at a crossroads, Graham said. The nation sends $1 billion a day overseas to oil-rich countries. The country is more dependent today on foreign oil than it was in the 1970s, he said.

“Change is coming,” Graham said. “A green economy is coming and I believe South Carolina should lead, not follow.”

Clemson University President James F. Barker opened the symposium by stating that the university and South Carolina are well-positioned to assume a leadership role in alternative energy research.

The university’s track record of fostering public-private partnerships — as demonstrated by the successful CU-ICAR model — places the Restoration Institute and the drive train testing facility at the forefront of a developing industry, Barker said.

“It will create new economic opportunities for states that act now,” he said.

The symposium was sponsored by South Carolina’s electric cooperatives, a group of 20 independent, not-for-profit, member-owned electric utilities that operate the largest electric power system in the state.

Presenters included Imtiaz Haque, executive director of the Carroll A. Campbell Jr. Graduate Engineering Center at CU-ICAR; Bobby Hitt, manager of media and public relations for BMW Manufacturing Co.; Jim Newsome, president and chief executive officer of the S.C. State Ports Authority; and Nick Rigas, director of the renewable energy focus area at the Restoration Institute.

John Kelly, executive director of the Restoration Institute and vice president of public service and agriculture at Clemson, said the symposium is part of an initiative by the institute to position South Carolina at the forefront of alternative energy research and development.

On Dec. 8, also at CU-ICAR, the Restoration Institute and GE Energy will host Jeffrey R. Immelt, chairman and chief executive officer of General Electric, for a “Summit on Renewable Energy: South Carolina Job Opportunities in the Green Economy.”

The public can watch the Dec. 8 summit via the Internet atwww.clemson.edu by clicking on the live video link.

“These meetings will help lay the groundwork for a potential renewable energy cluster, establish public policy and foster partnerships in South Carolina that could create thousands of jobs from the Upstate to the Lowcountry,” Kelly said.

via:
Clemson University

GE Energy has been awarded the contract to supply its ecomagination-approved Jenbacher cogeneration technology to power two innovative, natural gas and biomass-fueled energy centers being built in the Olympic Park and Stratford City development. The centers will provide reliable and efficient power, heating and cooling systems for the London 2012 Olympic Games and Paralympic Games, as well as new buildings and communities that will develop after 2012.

The 10-megawatt (MW) project, which will have the potential to power approximately 20,000 homes, is a cornerstone of London 2012’s goals to increase the use of alternative energy, water conservation and recycling strategies to minimize the environmental impact of the Games.

“The energy center initiative that includes GE’s technology illustrates the advanced energy infrastructure that we are installing in the Olympic Park,” said Simon Wright, Olympic Delivery Authority director of infrastructure and utilities. “The energy centers will be the heart of the utilities network in the Olympic Park, fueling not only a summer of world-class sport, but also the lasting regeneration of the area for many years to come.“

The first energy center, featuring two of GE Energy’s Jenbacher 3.3-MW natural gas cogeneration modules, is being built in the Stratford City development area and will support Olympic Park activities, as well as commercial redevelopment initiatives in East London.

The second plant, at Kings Yard on the western end of Olympic Park, will be fitted with one 3.3-MW GE Energy Jenbacher cogeneration module to help generate needed thermal power for the Aquatics Center swimming pools and other venues via the Olympic Park’s district heating network. The plant also will generate electrical and thermal power for sporting venues, homes and other buildings in the area.

Both energy facilities will include boilers that use natural gas as feedstock to generate additional heat to meet peak demands. The Kings Yard facility also includes a boiler that can utilize wood chip biomass to generate heat to help meet the base demand.

“The proven fuel-flexibility and durability of our cogeneration technology will help optimize the performance and reliability of the new energy centers, which will be crucial to the success of the London 2012 Olympic Games and 2012 Paralympic Games, as well as the long-term economic development of London,” said Prady Iyyanki, CEO of GE Energy’s Jenbacher gas engine business.

Combined heat and power (CHP) technology is more energy efficient than using separate electrical and thermal power systems and thus helps reduce CO2 emissions from power generation. The CHP plants will help the Olympic Delivery Authority reach its target of a 20 percent reduction in C02 emissions through use of renewable and alternative energy sources compared to traditional heating, cooling and power generation equipment.

After the Games end, the energy centers at Kings Yard and Stratford City will then be used to support future commercial development in East London for at least 40 years.

“GE is a worldwide partner of the Olympic Games through the London 2012 Olympic Games, and its Jenbacher CHP technology has provided reliable onsite electrical and thermal power to help ensure the success of previous Games in China, Italy and Greece,” Iyyanki noted.

via: GE Energy

GE Energy has signed a technology licensing agreement with Hydrogen Energy for a proposed 250-megawatt power plant that would use integrated gasification combined-cycle (IGCC) technology, a product of ecomagination. The plant, to be located near Bakersfield, in Kern County, Calif., would be designed to capture up to 90 percent of its carbon dioxide for enhanced oil recovery and sequestration in an adjacent oil field.

“This is a homecoming of sorts for GE and IGCC technology,” said Monte Atwell, general manager, gasification of GE Energy. “GE technology was involved in the first IGCC pilot plant in Barstow, Calif., and we are pleased to be deploying the next generation of this technology to deliver low carbon power to the people of Southern California.”

HEI is a joint venture of BP Alternative Energy and multinational mining company Rio Tinto Hydrogen. In 2007, GE and BP formed a global alliance to jointly develop and deploy technology for at least five IGCC power plants that could dramatically reduce carbon dioxide emissions from electricity generation. The Hydrogen Energy California County project would be the first power plant built under that alliance.

“Offering further proof that IGCC with carbon capture and storage (CCS) is viable commercial technology, this plant could become a model for new power generating facilities worldwide and help position the United States as a leader in low carbon power generation,” said Jonathan Briggs, regional director of the Americas for Hydrogen Energy. “We are pleased to team up with GE Energy, a world leader in IGCC experience, for this milestone project, which will offer electricity generators with a low carbon fuel option that can contribute enormously to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.”

IGCC plants have been deployed worldwide and have demonstrated the capability to significantly reduce emissions. The technology converts solid fuels, such as coal, into a cleaner burning hydrogen-rich fuel, which then is used by a gas turbine combined-cycle system to generate electricity, providing a cleaner, economical coal-to-power option. IGCC also significantly reduces criteria emissions—sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxide, mercury and particulate matter—and decreases water consumption by up to 30 percent (as compared to a conventional coal plant).

The technology proposed for the Hydrogen Energy California plant would convert petroleum coke, coal or a combination of each into a synthesis gas (syngas). Chemical scrubbers would filter out pollutants and would separate CO2, leaving a hydrogen-rich fuel to power the gas turbine combined-cycle system. The carbon captured from the plant would be piped to an adjacent oil field, where it would be used for enhanced oil recovery and sequestration operations.

GE Energy has been at the forefront of IGCC technology for more than two decades. GE technology was involved in several milestone projects, including the pilot IGCC plant, Coolwater, in Barstow, Calif., and the Polk Tampa Electric IGCC plant in Florida, that helped demonstrate the commercial feasibility of IGCC. GE also is supplying IGCC technology for Duke Energy’s plant in Edwardsport, Ind., that is expected to be the world’s largest IGCC facility when it reaches commercial operation in 2012.

There are nearly 70 GE-licensed gasification facilities operating around the world today and approximately 40 of these plants use commercial technology to separate carbon.

via: GE Energy

The Greenville Area Development Corporation, South Carolina Department of Commerce and Waste2Energy Holdings, Inc. have announced the relocation of the company’s corporate headquarters from New York City to Greenville, South Carolina, including the planned addition of at least 25 jobs over the next few years, as part of the organization’s strategic growth initiatives in North America.

Waste2Energy is a worldwide supplier of proprietary gasification technology designed to convert municipal solid waste, biomass and other solid waste streams traditionally destined for landfills into clean, renewable energy. Waste2Energy designs, builds and installs waste-to-energy plants that generate “Renewable Green Power” and are scalable, modular, environmentally friendly and robust enough to operate in remote environments.

The Greenville headquarters initially will house administration, engineering, sales, marketing and customer service support to customers, primarily landfill owners / operators, project developers, municipalities, hospitals, military bases and mining sites, according to Peter Bohan, CEO for Waste2Energy Holdings, Inc. New capital investment in the headquarters operation is estimated at approximately $1 million. Bohan expects the Greenville headquarters, located at 1 Chick Springs Road in Greenville, to foster “substantial sales opportunities across North America in the near term, with significant opportunity to grow from there. Our products and services are ideally suited to resolving the proliferation of waste in landfills in and around smaller cities in particular,” he noted.

Waste2Energy was drawn to Greenville by a combination of factors, including its plentiful engineering and project management talent pool, its accessibility and acclaimed regional airport, reasonable costs for conducting business, temperate climate and high quality of life factors, and Bohan’s own familiarity with the region from past travels to the Upstate. The firm, previously headquartered in New York City, also considered locations in New York, Massachusetts and Florida before selecting Greenville.

“There’s no doubt that the outstanding engineering and project management talent in this region, the Greenville-Spartanburg airport and the lower costs of doing business here were drivers in our selection,” said Bohan. “This area is known for its top engineering talent, and the quality of life in this region makes it easy to attract and retain quality employees here.”

The company’s clients are international and diverse, noted Bohan, while reiterating that he sees a tremendous opportunity to expand its North American client base from the new Greenville headquarters operation. “Our customers span the globe – from Wake Island in the Pacific Ocean to Iceland and Scotland, and from military bases to municipalities and manufacturing campuses – and we feel we have barely scratched the surface of our potential in the contiguous 48 states,” he added. “We are excited to establish operations here in Greenville County, and very appreciative of the support and leadership of the Greenville Area Development Corporation and Department of Commerce in making this announcement a reality.”

The company’s Batch Oxidation System, or BOS, provides a low emission and low labor approach to small and medium-scale solid waste disposal – ideal for small cities and private industry. Utilizing a gasification process which thermally converts waste products into a burnable gas, the two-stage process provides the lowest possible emissions and is the most environmentally sound method for waste disposal. By adding thermal recovery equipment, the hot effluent gas can be used to produce steam and electricity, and is ideal for processing waste streams up to 500 tons per day of waste processing.

For biomass and agro-industrial producers, Waste2Energy’s Continuous Oxidation Reactor (CORTM) is a low-cost gasification and oxidation system which oxidizes at high temperature in either a single or double chamber, giving extremely clean emissions. It is ideally suited to large quantities of biomass or other consistent waste feedstock up to 1,000 tons per day, and can be supplied with or without energy capture for the production of steam or electricity.

“Waste2Energy, as a supplier of waste-to-energy technology, will enhance our growing alternative energy sector in the Upstate. The company’s decision to bring its corporate headquarters to South Carolina is a strong testament that our business-friendly climate, skilled workforce and exceptional market access are working to attract new investment and create new job opportunities for South Carolinians. Thanks to the team effort of state and local officials, Greenville County will benefit from this investment now and in the future,” said Joe Taylor, Secretary of Commerce.

Chairman of Greenville County Council, H.G. “Butch” Kirven, remarked, “We are excited because this enterprise will complement and enhance Greenville County’s already robust interest in economically viable energy businesses. For example, Greenville County provides methane gas from the closed Enoree Landfill that is converted into commercial electricity. This company’s decision to locate here confirms that conditions for innovation, enterprise, and opportunity are excellent in Greenville County.”

The company expects to begin hiring for the headquarters operations in mid-fourth quarter of 2009, added Bohan, who noted that most positions to be filled will be in the engineering, project management and finance arenas. The company expects to invite applications for positions via their website, located at www.waste2energy.com. Wage specifics were not released.

“Waste2Energy is a great example of how a company that combines world-class technology and innovative engineering processes with an Upstate location can grow their business in North America,” said Mike Buiter, Chairman of the Greenville Area Development Corporation Board. “The company is research-based, innovative and growth-oriented, and a wonderful reflection of the opportunities to be found in Greenville County and South Carolina.”

“We are excited by Waste2Energy’s relocation to Greenville,” stated Greenville Mayor Knox White. “Greenville continues to rank nationally as having one of the highest concentrations of engineers, and companies like this are a perfect match to the skills in our community. I am pleased to see that we continue to attract companies that are at the leading edge of technology.”

via: greenvillecounty.org

Duke Energy’s board of directors increased its size from 10 to 12 members with the election today of John H. Forsgren and E. James Reinsch.

Forsgren is the retired vice chairman, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Northeast Utilities. He brings 35 years of experience in the field of corporate finance. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Georgetown University, an MBA from Columbia University and a Master’s in International Finance and Management from the University of Geneva, Switzerland.

Reinsch is senior vice president and partner of Bechtel Group, and past president of Bechtel Nuclear. He brings more than 37 years of nuclear experience from Bechtel’s three nuclear business segments – nuclear operating plant services, steam generator replacement, and new nuclear generation.

“John and Jim bring a wealth of knowledge and experience in two key areas of our business. John will be a tremendous asset as we modernize our infrastructure during these challenging economic times, while Jim provides an impressive resume in nuclear at a time when we are considering building two new stations,” said Duke Energy chairman, president and CEO Jim Rogers.

Duke Energy is the third largest electric power holding company in the United States, based on kilowatt-hour sales. Its regulated utility operations serve approximately 4 million customers located in five states – North Carolina, South Carolina, Indiana, Ohio and Kentucky — representing a population of approximately 11 million people. Duke Energy’s commercial power and international business segments operate diverse power generation assets in North America and Latin America, including a growing portfolio of renewable energy assets in the United States.

via: Duke Energy

Progress Energy Carolinas’ power generation mix has become a little sunnier, as a 1.2-megawatt (MW) solar array is now online and producing electricity in eastern North Carolina.

The photovoltaic solar energy system, located on about 10 acres at the site of Progress Energy’s Sutton Plant near Wilmington, was financed, built, and is owned and operated by SunEdison, North America’s largest solar energy services provider. Progress Energy will purchase electricity from SunEdison under a 20-year solar power agreement and will add it to the mix of resources used to meet the needs of 1.4 million households and businesses in the Carolinas. Progress Energy also purchases renewable energy credits from SunEdison.

This is the first project for SunEdison and Progress Energy. In December, a 1-MW solar array built by software company SAS on its Cary, N.C., campus began producing electricity. A third megawatt-sized facility is expected to come online in Western North Carolina this year. That facility also will sell energy to Progress Energy for distribution to customers. Progress Energy is evaluating additional solar proposals in North Carolina and expects to move forward with new contracts this year.

“Solar energy is a growing part of our company’s balanced strategy for meeting the needs of our customers,” said Lloyd Yates, CEO and president of Progress Energy Carolinas. “We will continue to pursue cost-effective renewable energy investments in meeting state goals and objectives. Hand in hand with the increased investment in alternative energy sources is our aggressive promotion of energy efficiency, as well as our commitment to ensure that we have state-of-the-art power plants and infrastructure. We’re focused on innovation, while ensuring that the electric service our customers depend on remains reliable, affordable and environmentally sound.”

“Progress Energy is taking a strong leadership position in the utility industry. Through action and stewardship, Progress is showing that incorporating solar into an existing utility portfolio can be done quickly and without any upfront capital costs. SunEdison is proud to support Progress as we continue to develop solutions that help utilities meet regulatory requirements and meet customers’ desire for clean solar electricity,” said Kirk Roller, Vice President, SunEdison.

SunEdison proposed the Wilmington solar PV project in response to Progress Energy’s request for renewable energy proposals. The open-ended request is part of Progress Energy’s plan to meet the requirements of North Carolina’s energy law, passed in 2007.

The law established a renewable and energy-efficiency portfolio standard, which requires utilities to provide a portion of their energy sales using renewable energy sources and energy efficiency. For Progress Energy, that portion grows from 3 percent of total energy sales in 2012 to 12.5 percent in 2021. For solar-generated energy, the requirement begins in 2010.

A PV array is a collection of solar cells, each consisting of two thin layers of semi-conducting material (silicon) that generate electricity when exposed to sunlight.

Progress Energy Carolinas is evaluating additional renewable energy projects (solar, wind and biomass), as well as potential opportunities and an expanded role for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and other energy technologies.

Progress Energy’s Sutton Plant, which includes 659 megawatts of electric generating capability, is an integral part of the company’s system for meeting the needs of its customers throughout eastern North Carolina. In addition to solar power, the electricity Progress Energy generates and purchases on behalf of its customers comes from nuclear plants as well as generation fueled by coal, oil and natural gas, and hydroelectric plants.