Exelon’s fossil power plants produce approximately 6,500 megawatts (MW) of electricity. A diverse fuel mix of coal, oil and natural gas allows Exelon to remain competitive in the deregulated utility market by ensuring power during intermediate shoulder seasons and peak demand times. Exelon’s peaker plants provide more than 2,000 MW of supplementary power for use during periods of high demand.
Fossil Investment
Fossil fuel plants play a key role in the supply of reliable power. According to the U.S. Department of Energy, they provide nearly 2/3 of the nation’s electricity, including peak demand periods. Exelon has sold or retired most of its coal plants and works to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions at its fossil plants that remain in operation to cost-effectively meet demand.
- Clean Coal. As part of the effort to reduce GHG emissions, many research projects for the development of “clean coal” plants are underway. Unfortunately, carbon capture and sequestration technology is not yet proven or economically feasible and additional government support is needed. We continue to advocate for financial support for new low-carbon baseload generation, such as clean coal. We also continue to support carbon sequestration research conducted by the U.S. Department of Energy’s Midwest Regional Carbon Sequestration Partnership and the Electric Power Research Institute, a well as the FutureGen demonstration project in Mattoon, Illinois.
- Natural Gas. As part of our environmental and business strategy, Exelon 2020, we are exploring the potential construction of a 395 MW simple-cycle natural gas peaking unit at the Mountain Creek generating station near Dallas, Texas. The natural gas unit would displace more carbon-intensive generation in the regional market. We expect to receive an air permit in late 2010.
Safety and Performance
All Exelon facilities employ sophisticated emergency response plans to protect public health and safety. These plans are reviewed and approved by state governments and regulatory agencies. The emergency planning includes coordination with local counties, municipalities and school districts.
Exelon continues to pursue improvements in the efficiency and thermal performance of our fossil generating plants
- In 2009, our fossil fleet had the best summer commercial availability factor in 5 years (93.7%), demonstrating our ability to meet and leverage peak demand periods.
- GHG emissions from Exelon’s fossil generating plants declined by 0.9 million metric tons from 2007 levels to 9.9 million metric tons in 2008. Most of these early greenhouse gas reductions, yielded from Exelon 2020 so far, were achieved by focusing on opportunities within Exelon’s own operations, including retiring or “mothballing” less efficient and higher-emitting fossil fuel power plants in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Texas.
- Market conditions and falling electricity demand mean that our older and less efficient plants in Pennsylvania are no longer economic to operate. As a result, in December of 2009, we announced our intention to permanently retire the Cromby Fossil Plant and the 2 coal units at the Eddystone Fossil Plant.
Fossil Power Plants
Cromby Generating Station is a 2-unit power plant located on the Schuylkill River in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania. Cromby Unit 1 and Unit 2 were installed in 1954 and 1955, respectively. In December 2009, Exelon announced its intent to permanently retire this plant effective in 2011.
Township Line & Cromby Rds
Phoenixville, Pennsylvania 19460
directions
Eddystone Generating Station is an 8-unit coal, gas and oil power plant located on the Delaware River in Eddystone, Pennsylvania. Construction of the plant began in the mid-1950s with Unit 1 and Unit 2 coming on-line in 1960 and Unit 3 and Unit 4 coming on-line in 1974 and 1976, respectively. In December 2009, Exelon announced its intent to permanently retire the plant’s two coal units. Following the retirement of Eddystone Units 1 and 2 in May 2011 and December 2012 respectively, Eddystone will remain in service, operating six units.
#1 Industrial Highway
Eddystone, Pennsylvania 19013
directions
Handley Generating Station is a 5-unit 1,441-MW gas power plant located in Fort Worth, Texas. The station provides power to customers in the Electric Reliability Counsel of Texas (ERCOT), when needed.
Mountain Creek Generating Station is a 5-unit, 893-MW gas power plant located in Dallas, Texas. The station provides power to customers in the Electric Reliability Counsel of Texas (ERCOT), when needed.
2233A Mountain Creek Parkway
Dallas, Texas 75211
directions
Peaking Plants
Chester Generating Station is operated by Exelon Power, a business unit of Exelon Generation, as part of the Peaking Division. It is a 3-unit oil power plant located in Chester, Pennsylvania.
Front & Ward Streets
Chester, Pennsylvania 19013
directions
Croydon Generating Station is operated by Exelon Power, a business unit of Exelon Generation, as part of the Peaking Division. It is an 8-unit oil power plant located in Bristol Township, Pennsylvania.
955 River Road
Bristol Township, Pennsylvania 19020
directions
Delaware Generating Station is operated by Exelon Power, a business unit of Exelon Generation, as part of the Peaking Division. It is a 4-unit oil power plant located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
1325 N Beach St
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19125
directions
ExTex LaPorte Generating Station is a 4-unit, 160-MW gas power plant located in Houston, Texas. The station provides power to customers in the Houston regions during peak demand situations.
Bristol Road/South Tyburn Road
Fallsington, Pennsylvania 19067
directions
Framingham Generating Station is a 3-unit, 41-MW gas power plant located in Framingham, Massachusetts. The units at Framingham are used to provide much needed power and voltage support during peak energy periods.
91 Leland Street
Framingham, Massachusetts 1760
directions
Moser Generating Station is operated by Exelon Power, a business unit of Exelon Generation, as part of the Peaking Division. It is a 3-unit oil power plant located in Lower Pottsgrove, Pennsylvania.
1595 Industrial Highway
Pottstown, Pennsylvania 19464
directions
New Boston Generating Station is operated by Exelon Power, a business unit of Exelon Generation, as part of the Peaking Division. It is a 1-unit oil power plant located in Boston, Massachusetts.
776 Summer Street
South Boston, Massachusetts 2127
directions
Richmond Generating Station is operated by Exelon Power, a business unit of Exelon Generation, as part of the Peaking Division. It is a 2-unit oil power plant located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
3901 N Delaware Ave
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19137
directions
Schuylkill Generating Station is a 1-unit, 166-MW peak gas power plant located on the banks of the Schuylkill River in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The facility operates during periods of increased demand on the regional power grid.
2800 Christian St
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19146
directions
Southeast Chicago Energy Project Generating Station is operated by Exelon Power, a business unit of Exelon Generation, as part of the Peaking Division. It is an 8-unit natural gas power plant located in Chicago, Illinois.
3141 E 96th Street
Chicago, Illinois 60617
directions
Southwark Generating Station is operated by Exelon Power, a business unit of Exelon Generation, as part of the Peaking Division. It is a 4-unit oil power plant located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
2501 South Delaware Avenue
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19148
directions
West Medway Generating Station is a 3-unit, 173-MW gas power plant located in West Medway, Massachusetts. West Medway’s Rolls Royce Avon engines were the first of 12 dual-fuel engines installed in the world.
9 Summer Street
West Medway, Massachusetts 2053
directions
Exelon Power Fact Sheet [PDF, 37 KB]Exelon Power’s diverse generating portfolio consists of 108 fossil, hydroelectric and renewable units capable of generating more than 8,000 MW of electricity in Pennsylvania, Maryland, Illinois, Texas and Massachusetts.