Natural gas-powered unit goes online at Ky. power plant

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (AP) - Kentucky's largest electric power utility says a new natural gas-powered generating unit that has gone online is the first of its kind in the state.

Louisville Gas and Electric said Monday that the 640-megawatt unit at its Cane Run Generating Station in western Louisville is up and running. It replaces coal-burning units at the plant, which was built in the 1950s.

The unit generates electricity with gas turbines, and then recycles exhaust heat to generate steam and produce additional power. The Tennessee Valley Authority is installing a similar gas-powered turbine at its Paradise Fossil plant in Drakesboro, Kentucky.

LG&E says the Cane Run project came in about $18 million under the projected cost of $563 million.

The company says it is continuing closure plans for Cane Run's coal-fired units.