Jan. 20, 2012

See computer-generated illustrations of the Ferguson Replacement Project

Fluor Corporation has completed several computer-generated illustrations of how the new Ferguson Replacement Project will look. Fluor, the project contractor, created the images using photos of the existing Thomas C. Ferguson Power Plant and then replaced the existing plant with computer-generated graphics of the new one. The resulting illustrations impose the new power plant on the location of the current one.

• Illustration 1 - new plant
• Illustration 2 - new plant next to existing plant
• Illustration 3 - new plant

Large versions of the designs will be available for the public to view during open houses that LCRA and Fluor will host this spring for the public to learn more about the project and how Fluor plans to build it. The open houses are tentatively scheduled for Marble Falls and Horseshoe Bay in the spring. Check the Ferguson Replacement Project website for updates at www.lcra.org/fergusonreplacement.

Vendor forum March 1
LCRA and Fluor will host a vendor forum Thursday, March 1, at 9:30 a.m. at the Lakeside Pavilion in Marble Falls to look for potential subcontractors and suppliers to help with the Thomas C. Ferguson Power Plant Replacement Project. The pavilion is located at 307 Buena Vista Drive in Marble Falls.

LCRA plans to replace its 37-year-old Ferguson plant near Horseshoe Bay with a new natural gas-fired power plant that will be one of the most efficient and environmentally responsible electric generating facilities operating in Texas. Fluor will be looking for potential subcontractors and suppliers.

The 540-megawatt combined-cycle natural gas plant will use 35 to 40 percent less fuel than a traditional gas-fired plant by combining a gas-turbine system and a steam-cycle system to generate electricity. The combination of the cycles creates a highly efficient power plant with lower fuel costs and fewer emissions.

LCRA encourages its contractors to involve as many local businesses as possible through qualified and cost-effective suppliers and subcontractors. Anyone interested in attending the vendor forums can register for free online at www.lcra.org/fergusonreplacement or call Al Beavers at 1-800-776-5272, Ext. 3287.

Job fair
Fluor also plans to host an employment fair shortly after the vendor forum. The employment fair will give individuals with particular job skills an opportunity to talk with Fluor representatives and learn how to apply for jobs.

Scheduled construction activities
Fluor is scheduled to begin installing perimeter fences and erosion controls in mid-February. Shortly after the fencing is in place, the project contractor plans to construct a guard house at the construction entrance and begin ground preparation.

E-newsletter updates
LCRA will send email updates on construction activities to people who have signed up to receive its free electronic newsletter. To sign up for the newsletter, to register a business as a potential vendor or to learn more about the project, see www.lcra.org/fergusonreplacement.

About Ferguson Power Plant
LCRA began operating Thomas C. Ferguson Power Plant in 1974 to meet increased demand, especially in the western part of its Central Texas service area. The single-unit, natural gas-fired plant can generate up to 420 megawatts, enough electricity to meet the peak demand for nearly 100,000 Texas homes. Today, Ferguson operates primarily during periods of peak demand and also provides reserve and emergency power for the Electric Reliability Council of Texas. Lake LBJ provides cooling water for the plant and is a popular recreation destination. The Ferguson plant is located in Llano County, about 8.5 miles west of Marble Falls. Other nearby communities include Horseshoe Bay, Granite Shoals, Cottonwood Shores, Meadowlakes, Highland Haven and Sunrise Beach. The plant employs about 40 people and contributes about $2.5 million anually to the region's economy.

About LCRA
The Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA) is a nonprofit conservation and reclamation district that provides energy, water, and community services to Texans. Created by the Texas Legislature in 1934, LCRA has no taxing authority and operates solely on utility revenues and service fees. LCRA supplies electricity to more than 1.1 million Texans through more than 40 wholesale customers. LCRA also provides many other services in the region. These services include managing floods, protecting the quality of the lower Colorado River and its tributaries, providing parks and recreational facilities, offering economic development assistance, operating water and wastewater utilities, and providing soil, energy, and water conservation programs.