Bechtel Completes State-of-the-Art Combined-Cycle Plant in Texas

Plant Begins Producing Power Ahead of Schedule

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Sep 25, 2014, 10:17 ET

FREDERICK, Md., Sept. 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Bechtel announced today that it has completed the Panda Temple I Generating Station in Temple, Texas, two weeks ahead of schedule. The 758-megawatt natural gas-fueled, combined-cycle power facility is owned by Panda Power Funds and boasts advanced emissions control technology that makes it one of the cleanest plants in the nation.

Panda Energy Headquarters (PRNewsFoto/Bechtel)

"The early completion of this plant is critically important to the state and to the community of Temple—especially now, when Texas is growing by more than a thousand people a day," said Todd Carter, president and senior partner of Panda Power Funds. "The plant provides a reliable source of electricity that is capable of quickly supplying power when sources of renewable energy like wind and solar are not available."

The Temple I Generating Station is one of the fastest-starting power plants of its kind in the country. The combustion turbines can synchronize in 10 minutes and reach full load within 30 minutes. The entire plant can achieve full power production within 60 minutes.

"Panda Temple I represents a tremendous team effort, including our consortium partner Siemens and Panda Power Funds, both of which worked seamlessly to bring the plant online early, which was important for our customer and the community," said Mary McLaughlin, president of Bechtel's thermal power business line. "We are pleased to have delivered a quality plant safely. As a result of a strong safety culture, the team worked the duration of the project without a single lost-time accident."

As part of a consortium with Siemens, Bechtel provided project management, engineering, procurement, construction, and startup services, while Siemens provided the power-island package, including the natural gas and steam turbines, generators, and waste-heat-recovery boilers. About 70 percent of the project's subcontractors and 80 percent of Bechtel's craft workers were from Texas.

"The successful completion of this plant demonstrates the strength of the Bechtel and Siemens consortium," said Martin Tartibi, senior executive vice president of Siemens Energy Solutions Americas. "The team successfully delivered a plant whose technology will quickly ramp up power to fuel the region's growth and economic vitality."

Bechtel and Siemens also are working as a consortium to deliver the Panda Temple II Generating Station, adjacent to Panda Temple I; the Panda Sherman Power Project in Sherman, Texas; and the Panda Stonewall Power Project in Leesburg, Virginia. The projects are similar in size to Panda Temple I and, when completed, will collectively generate enough electricity to power almost 3 million homes.

Bechtel is a global leader in the design and execution of complex power projects and has been at the forefront of the power industry for more than 60 years. The company has successfully completed combined-cycle projects in the United States, United Kingdom, Egypt, India, Turkey, and Mexico.

About Bechtel
Bechtel is among the most respected engineering, project management, and construction companies in the world. We stand apart for our ability to get the job done right—no matter how big, how complex, or how remote. Bechtel operates through five global business units that specialize in civil infrastructure; power generation, communications, and transmission; mining and metals; oil, gas, and chemicals; and government services. Since its founding in 1898, Bechtel has worked on more than 25,000 projects in 160 countries on all seven continents. Today, our 53,000 colleagues team with customers, partners, and suppliers on diverse projects in nearly 40 countries. www.bechtel.com

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SOURCE Bechtel