| ATLANTA, GA. - July 12, 2007 :- GE Energy, working with Robbins Community Power (RCP) located in Robbins, Ill., will provide direction for the engineering, design, construction and start-up phases of a new energy power plant. The RCP power plant is being transformed from a waste-to-energy facility into a renewable energy plant providing power for the Chicago metropolitan area. The $20 million upgrade of the facility, which has lain idle since 2000, will enable the plant to burn wood by-products and generate approximately 375,000-megawatt hours of energy per year. The planned process is an alternative way to produce a renewable energy source. Power will be generated by transforming biomass—wood by-products reduced to wood chips—into useable electricity. In addition to providing power, RCP estimates that the plant will have the added benefit of keeping about 200,000 tons of construction debris and other wood products out of local landfills every year. The scope of the RCP project utilizes a wide range of GE's Infrastructure portfolio. The testing and recommissioning of the facility's electrical system, replacement of the control system and continuous emissions monitoring system, upgrading fan variable frequency drive systems and the installation of reverse osmosis water purification equipment are just a few aspects of the plant overhaul. "We are proud to collaborate with Robbins Community Power on this project," said Jim Robertson, general manager of GE Energy's industrial services division. "The new facility will offer significant economic and social benefits to the Chicago Southland area while expanding the use of renewable biomass fuel to produce power. The RCP project also is a great opportunity for GE Energy and its industrial services team to utilize our project management capabilities as we bring together products and services from across the GE Infrastructure business." Ed Kalebich, chief operating officer for RCP, when discussing this renewable energy project and unique opportunity for his company and the Chicago Southland area, calls the agreement "one of the most exciting developments for the project so far." He continues by saying, "as we were looking for partners to work with us on the conversion of the plant, GE Energy was a perfect fit. They not only have the breadth of resources and capabilities to do the job, but they also share our vision for what we can accomplish here. GE's innovation and unique ideas have been an invaluable part of the project planning and we are looking forward to a long-standing working relationship." Last month, legislation designed to clarify the term "clean wood" as fuel rather than waste in Illinois law overwhelmingly passed the Illinois General Assembly and now is headed to Governor Rod Blagojevich's desk for approval. About GE EnergyGE Energy (www.ge.com/energy ) is one of the world's leading suppliers of power generation and energy delivery technologies, with 2006 revenue of $19 billion. Based in Atlanta, Ga., GE Energy works in all areas of the energy industry including coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy; renewable resources such as water, wind, solar and biogas; and other alternative fuels. Numerous GE Energy products are certified under ecomagination, GE's corporate-wide initiative to aggressively bring to market new technologies that will help customers meet pressing environmental challenges. For more information, contact:Jon Bogle |
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