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Publish Date : 21-Jun-2013

Xcel Energy has invested more than $20 million building its new Quay County Generating Station, boosting Tucumcari's economic development efforts by ensuring a more reliable power supply for the city.

The new power station was first announced in 2011 as a way to back up a single, 80-mile transmission feed that supplies power to the city of Tucumcari. The city was at risk for long-duration outages in the event of catastrophic damage on the line, and a backup power source was determined to be the most cost-effective option.

Quay County Generating Station is capable of generating 23 megawatts – enough to supply the entire city of Tucumcari. Additionally, the plant can be used as a source of power for the regional power grid.

Electricity is generated by a single combustion turbine fueled by ultra low-sulfur diesel. The turbine was moved in 2012 from a generating facility in Texas to the new plant, constructed in north Tucumcari on Campbell Street adjacent to the new Lopez and existing Campbell Street Xcel Energy substations.

"There is no plant in our fleet quite like Quay County," said Alan Davidson, Xcel Energy director of regional capital projects. "Because it will serve as an emergency source of power, we hope we don't have to use it often. But it's reassuring to us and to our valued customers in Tucumcari to know we will soon have options."

Doug Powers, Tucumcari city manager, said a $20 million investment in the community is not only beneficial from the perspective of increased tax revenues, but also in retaining and attracting business.

"The new plant is in a great location near our existing industries, and it's a great draw for future business that we hope to bring to the city," Powers said. "We really appreciate Xcel Energy's investment, and the way in which they went about it by talking to the community and considering our needs."

Xcel Energy's regional operating company, Southwestern Public Service Company, acquired the electricity distribution system that serves Tucumcari in 1980, along with a small diesel-fueled power plant that served the city's needs for many years. That plant, with its outdated diesel engines, reached the end of its useful life and was decommissioned in 2010 and dismantled.

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