Butler-Warner Generation Plant

PWC has the distinction of being the only municipal utility company in North Carolina to own and operate a power plant. The Butler-Warner Generation Plant is designed to keep customers' rates competitive because it provides power during peak consumption hours, when purchasing electricity from outside sources is more expensive. The plant was named in honor of Robert H. Butler and James R. Warner, former chairmen of the Commission.
Between 1976 and 1980, PWC installed eight peak-shaving gas turbine generators capable of producing 192 megawatts (MW) of electricity. In 1988, six of these units were converted to a combined-cycle steam mode which increased generating capacity by approximately 68 MW, for a total of 260 MW of generating capacity.

In 1993, a thermal energy storage (ice storage) system was added to the plant for cooling the gas turbines in the summer peak season. This is one of the largest thermal energy storage plant in the world with 4.6 million gallons of ice storage capacity. And the innovative system has attracted worldwide attention because it can cost-effectively increase the plant's capacity by 30% in the summer months, when our demand for electricity is greater. In all, the plant's generating capacity is approximately 285 megawatts.

  • Location: Custer Road, northeast Cumberland County
  • Built: Initial Installation: 1976
  • Major Upgrade: 1988, 1992
  • Generation Capacity: 265,000 kW
  • Features: 8 G.E. Turbines (25,000 kW) each; 65,000 kW Steam Turbine; One of the world's Largest Thermal Energy Storage projects. Makes 2,560 tons of ice per day, is used to cool air entering the turbines that generate electricity.
  • System Peak Demand: 474.5 MW - 7/27/05
  • Distinctions: Included on list of "Plants to See" by the World Energy Conference and American Public Power Association

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