June 15, 2007

Council Bluffs No. 4 Is in Commercial Operation

Council Bluffs Energy Center 4 began commercial operation June 1. The 790 megawatt (MW) plant will provide LES 50 MW this year and an additional 50 MW in 2008.

Power Supply Vice President Doug Bantam said the plant is one of the cleanest coal plants in the country. It is guaranteed to remove 98 percent of sulphur dioxide, 95 percent nitrogen oxide, 90 percent of particulates and 90 percent of mercury.

The plant has been operating since April and providing LES with energy. LES’ share of the plant is 12.66 percent. The total cost of construction is about $1.2 billion, and the cost to LES will be around $150 million.

Construction began in September 2003.

The following statistics for May were presented to the Board: