pOGDENSBURG — The energy company that produces steam for buildings on the St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center grounds wants to invest between $5 million and $8 million to fire up its gas turbines to make and sell electricity./ppAG-Energy LP, the Delaware limited partnership that owns the co-generation facility at 21 Entrance Ave., Ogdensburg, has filed an application with the state Public Service Commission seeking permission to once again begin producing electricity. Power produced at the plant would be sold on the wholesale energy market, according to company officials./ppA public hearing regarding the plan will be held at 7 p.m. May 4 at Ogdensburg City Hall./ppOgdensburg Mayor Wayne L. Ashley said that AG-Energy’s plans to begin producing electricity at its psych center property represent a positive development for the community in that it can help maintain existing jobs, possibly create new jobs and add to the city’s tax base./pp“This is excellent news,” Mr. Ashley said. “From what I’ve been told they have already brought in two new gas turbines that will double their capacity. It’s a positive move for the city.”/ppAG-Energy’s plant in Ogdensburg originally began commercial operation in 1994 as a 79-megawatt co-generation facility, selling electricity to Niagara Mohawk Power Corporation and steam to the St. Lawrence Psychiatric Center. /ppAt the time, the facility consisted of two gas turbine generating units, a steam turbine generating unit and two auxiliary boilers, according to company officials./ppIn 2007, AG-Energy removed the gas combustion turbines from service and, in 2010, put the steam turbine in protective lay-up./ppSince that time AG-Energy has maintained the equipment on site and performed maintenance activities to preserve the condition of the equipment and facility. /ppAG-Energy is now seeking to restart its ability to generate electricity, according to documents on file with the state Public Service Commission. /ppThe company told the PSC that it plans to invest as much as $8 million of its own money in the project, if given approval./ppIn January of this year the company filed a petition with the PSC seeking to restart its gas turbines and to sell the electricity at wholesale on the open market./ppThe May 4 hearing at City Hall is part of the process necessary to gain approval from state officials to re-tool the co-generation plant and again begin producing power, according to the PSC./ppApproval by the PSC would allow AG-Energy to perform the work necessary to restart its existing electric generation facility, which will have the same 79-megawatt capacity that it had before the gas turbines ceased commercial operations. /ppPrior to commencement of the May 4 public hearing at City Hall representatives of AG-Energy will give a short presentation regarding its request and representatives of the state PSC will explain the review process in this case./ppMembers of the public may pose questions of the presenters at the conclusion of the presentations. /p
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