CLECO plant to recycle lost heat energy

Ground was broken in early October on a new steam turbine power pant run exclusively by previously wasted heat.
CLECO energy supplies electric power to several municipalities in St. Martin Parish. They are the direct supplier to customers in Breaux Bridge and Coteau Holmes and the wholesale supplier to the St. Martinville power company. A new plant being built in Franklin will supply 50 megawatts, enough power to supply 17,000 homes, by capturing the wasted heat from a single CABOT Industries carbon black plant.
The use of an existing source of heat for power generation will result in zero added pollution and no fuel demand. Projected to begin operation in March 2018, the plant will allow CLECO to retire the 1953 vintage gas-fired Teche Unit One plant in Baldwin, St. Mary Parish.
Waste heat recovery is considered a renewable resource under the Louisiana Public Service Commission’s renewable energy pilot program. Carbon black, produced by the incomplete combustion of heavy petroleum, is used to produce tires and other rubber products, plastics, paint and ink.