Louisville City Wire

The Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control District (District) is holding a public hearing for a construction permit for LG&E Mill Creek Generating Station (electricity generation), 14460 Dixie Highway, Louisville, 40272, in accordance with Regulation 2.03. A public hearing will be held on March 21, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. in the Edison Room at the Edison Center, 701 West Ormsby Avenue, 40203, and via video teleconference in accordance with Regulations 1.08 and 2.07. The 60-day public comment period started on December 9, 2023, and ended on February 6, 2024.

Drafts of the permit and summary are available on the District website, by emailing our permitting section, calling Matt King at (502) 574-6000, or at the District office 701 West Ormsby Avenue, Suite 303, Louisville, KY 40203, between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Copies of the application are available upon request.

What is the purpose of this permit?

This permitting action is to authorize the installation of a new natural gas-fired combined cycle (NGCC) power generating unit, auxiliary boiler, emergency generator, fuel gas heater, fire pump, cooling tower, and associated insignificant activities at Mill Creek Station. The proposed permit requires two coal-fired units to be retired as part of the project.  The permit includes pollution limits, control device requirements, and testing and monitoring to verify compliance with all applicable air pollution regulations. This includes the site-specific Reasonably Available Control Technology (RACT) Plan included in Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control Board Order – Amendment 2, which was adopted by the Louisville Metro Air Pollution Control Board on November 15, 2023.

Will this permit increase pollution?

This proposed permit will result in a reduction of the following air pollution emissions. Because the project includes the retirement of two coal-fired units, there will be a 4,000 ton per year reduction of nitrogen oxides (NOx), a 1,000 ton per year reduction of sulfur dioxide (SO2), a 200 ton per year reduction of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), and an 800,000 ton per year reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2).  The project is projected to increase volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions by 11 tons per year.

Does this facility have a history of non-compliance?

LG&E entered into a Consent Decree to resolve an alleged violation in 2021 for excess sulfuric acid emissions that occurred prior to 2015 upgrades to air pollution control equipment at the facility.

Where can I find out more?

Additional information, including equipment descriptions, potential emissions, and applicable rules, are summarized in the Statement of Basis. The Draft Permit details the application of these rules to the equipment and includes the monitoring, recordkeeping, and reporting that the District believes is necessary to demonstrate compliance.

Original source can be found here.