829 MW facility is the first new power plant developed to take advantage of the Marcellus Shale Gas formation
GLASTONBURY, CT, May 15, 2014 – Gemma Power Systems, LLC (GPS), together with representatives of Panda Liberty, LLC and local and state officials today celebrated the groundbreaking of the Panda Liberty Generating Station. The power plant, located in Towanda, PA, is an 829 MW natural gas-fired combined cycle facility that will provide clean, reliable electric power to more than a million homes. The plant was specifically developed in this area to take advantage of the Marcellus Shale Gas formation.
Gemma Power Systems, LLC through a joint venture with The Lane Construction Corporation, is the Engineering-Procurement-Construction (EPC) contractor for the project.
Engineering, procurement and initial construction activities are well underway using many local suppliers and skilled craft workers. Up to 500 skilled craft workers will be employed at the site at peak construction. The plant is scheduled to be completed in early 2016.
“On behalf of the men and women of Gemma Power Systems, I want to thank Panda Power for the opportunity to deliver a world-class project experience for them and a state-of-the-art facility for the residents of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,” said William F. Griffin, Jr., GPS Chief Executive Officer.
“Gemma has a long and deep history of constructing complex projects for the power industry and we’re pleased to add this leading-edge facility to the ‘Built by Gemma’ portfolio,” Griffin said.
The Siemens H-class gas turbines selected for the project are the world’s first power generation technology to achieve thermal efficiencies of 60 percent in combined cycle operation. The single-shaft power train design will make the Liberty facility among the cleanest, most efficient natural gas-fired generating plants in the United States. The Liberty project is the first United States installation of the H-class turbines in single-shaft configuration, which has been used successfully in Europe and Asia. The plant also uses air cooled condensers, and a packaged water and wastewater treatment system to reduce water consumption and minimize waste water discharge. Burns and Roe, headquartered in Oradell, NJ, is providing engineering and detailed design services for the project.
About Gemma Power Systems, LLC:
Gemma Power Systems, a wholly owned subsidiary of Argan Inc. (NYSE: AGX), is a leading Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) company providing innovative solutions for the power and renewable energy industry. Our wide-ranging and comprehensive experience includes 11,000 MW of installed capacity including combined cycle and simple cycle gas turbine generating plants, biomass, solar facilities, wind farms, biofuel plants and environmental facilities. Additional information about Gemma Power Systems can be found at www.gemmapower.com.
About Panda Power Funds LP:
Founded in 2010, Panda Power Funds has the ability to internally source and develop, acquire, invest in, and operate large-scale, natural gas-fueled power generation facilities. The company recently built a utility-scale, 20-megawatt solar farm in Pilesgrove, New Jersey — one of the largest solar farms in the northeast United States. The private equity firm is headquartered in Dallas, Texas. Additional information on Panda Power Funds can be found at www.pandafunds.com.
Gemma Power Systems Media contact:
Sandra Ahearn
860.659.0509 (o)
860.729.7337 (m)
[email protected]
Panda Power Funds Media Contact:
Bill Pentak
972.361.2000
[email protected]