Ohio EPA grants wastewater discharge permit to Rolling Hills generating station in US

Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has given National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) wastewater permit to the Rolling Hills Generating Station which has planned to convert the facility in to a combined-cycle and peaking one.

Power producer Tenaska is planning to convert the natural gas-fired peaking plant into a combined cycle and peaking plant, which was built 12 years ago.

The conversion will help in reducing the environment footprint and increase power output by 66%, according to Argus media.

Construction works for the 850MW power facility is expected to start this year, prior to which it required the wastewater permit to ensure environmental safety.

The upgraded facility is expected to start commercial operation almost three years after the construction is initiated.

Project Manager Jeff James said: "Ohio EPA’s approval of the Rolling Hills Generating Station wastewater discharge permit is a significant milestone in our plan to convert the facility to a combined-cycle and peaking plant.

"As aging coal plants are retired, we anticipate that this strategically located plant will increasingly be called upon by PJM to meet additional baseload power requirements in this region."

The State of Ohio Sitting Board has also granted a Certificate of Environmental Compatibility and Public Need for the project in 2013.