Big Cajun II

STATUS: In progress, with opposition
 
OPPOSITION:  Sierra Club
 
PROSPECTS:  Indeterminate   
 

BACKGROUND:  Big Cajun II is a proposed coal-fired power plant by NRG Energy, located near New Roads, Louisiana.  The Big Cajun II facility is currently a three-unit, 1,730 megawatt (MW) coal generating station. The  675-MW expansion is estimated at $1 billion and would be designed with clean technology - using low sulfur coal and a supercritical boiler that increases efficiency and uses less fuel to generate the same amount of electric power as traditional boilers. The project would take about four years to build, generate nearly 1,100 temporary jobs at peak construction and create a permanent operating staff of 40. In August 2005, the Louisiana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) issued the operating permit, Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) permit and acid rain permit.  The Louisiana DEQ is currently evaluating the solid waste permit application.  In January 2009, the Sierra Club filed a lawsuit in Louisiana state court challenging the PSD/construction permit. The case is currently pending and no decision has been issued.  In March 2009, the Louisiana DEQ issued the final discharge permit, which regulates discharges from the plant into the state’s waters. 
 
LINKS: Energy Online http://energyonline.com/Industry/News.aspx?NewsID=6950; Red Orbit http://www.redorbit.com/news/science/216083/nrg_energy_inc_receives_permit_for_proposed_big_cajun_ii/; All Business http://www.allbusiness.com/energy-utilities/utilities-industry-electric-power/5045032-1.html