Amid political and environmental conflicts over Texas air quality, International Power announced a long-awaited powerplant expansion in South Texas. Barring intercession by the courts, the Coleto Creek Unit Two project is expected to create more than 1,000 construction jobs by 2015, when it is scheduled to come on line.
The $1.4-billion expansion project will add a 650-MW coal-burning power plant to International Power’s existing Coleto Creek Unit One at its power station in Goliad County. Michael Fields, director of expansion for International Power, says that after a six-month open-bid period, the company expects to sign the engineering, procurement and construction agreement early next year with the design-build joint-venture team of Zachry Industrial, San Antonio, Burns & McDonnell, Kansas City, Mo.; and Mitsubishi Power Systems, Lake Mary, Fla.