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AQMD, SCE Dedicate Low-Emission Equipment to Help Power
Catalina Island
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February 13, 2013
Microturbines reduce diesel fuel usage by
200,000 gallons annually
Representatives from the South Coast AQMD and Southern California Edison
today will dedicate 23 propane-fueled electrical generating units at the
Edison power station near Avalon to help reduce air pollution and cut diesel
fuel use on Catalina Island.
“These microturbines are helping to reduce smog-forming pollutants and
diesel particulates from Catalina’s power plant,” said William A. Burke,
Ed.D., AQMD’s Chairman. “This will help improve air quality not only on
Catalina but also on the mainland as prevailing winds can carry pollutants
onshore.”
The addition of the microturbines to Southern California Edison’s electric
system on Catalina Island provides approximately 1.5 megawatts in capacity,
while reducing the consumption of diesel fuel by 200,000 gallons annually,
said Caroline Choi, Southern California Edison’s vice president for
regulatory policy.
"We are pleased to celebrate the dedication of 23 microturbines," Choi said.
"The microturbines allow SCE to operate its diesel engines in an optimal
manner for the installed emissions reduction equipment."
AQMD provided the 60-kilowatt microturbines to Edison and they became
operational at SCE’s Pebbly Beach generating station in December 2011. Prior
to that time, diesel engines provided 100 percent of electricity generated
on Catalina.
In 2012, use of the microturbines reduced diesel fuel consumption at the
power plant by 200,000 gallons, or about 10 percent. This in turn reduced
smog-forming nitrogen oxide emissions from the facility by about 8 percent
and diesel particulate matter by about 9.5 percent.
In addition to reducing air pollution and diesel fuel usage, the
microturbines supplement electrical power and help offset peak power loads
on the island. Last year, the microturbines generated 2.5 million
kilowatt-hours of energy or about nine percent of the total power produced
on the island.
Since 2001, AQMD has deployed 210 similar microturbines throughout the
Southland. Microturbines, fueled by natural gas or propane as well as
renewable biogas from landfills and wastewater facilities, can provide
clean, alternative power to distributed generation projects that are not
connected to the power grid.
AQMD is the air pollution control agency for Orange County and major
portions of Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Riverside counties.
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This page updated:
February 13, 2013
URL: http://www.aqmd.gov/news1/2013/AQMD_SCE.htm
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