May 10 2010
PPL Generation breaks ground on an expansion project valued at $434 million at the Holtwood hydroelectric facility located in Lancaster County in an effort to generate clean, renewable electrical energy.
The investment of PPL Corporation at the Holtwood hydroelectric facility is likely to generate 200 ‘green energy’ jobs in three years time, and also create jobs at the close by Voith Hydro plant in York, Pennsylvania, which manufactures turbine-generators.
Edward G. Rendell, the Governor of Pennsylvania, stated that the state is known for generating green jobs and clean energy. The involvement of Department of Environmental Protection among other administrative agencies will assist PPL Corporation to increase its production capacity to generate clean energy at the hydroelectric facility.
In November 2009, PPL Corporation’s request to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) for adding 125 MW capacity, sufficient to run 100,000 homes, was approved. Moreover, FERC provided an extension for the Holtwood hydroelectric facility’s operating license to August 2030.
Construction on the novel hydroelectric facility commenced in January and is expected to come to completion by spring 2013. The currently existing hydroelectric facility, which has been operational since October 1910 with 108 MW capacity will also continue to generate clean energy.