Grand Tower Power Station
	Location Grand Tower Power Station is located in Jackson County, Ill. The coal-burning plant was recently converted to a natural gas-fired generation facility. It draws water needed for the electric generation process from the Mississippi River.
Repowering Project Units 3 and 4 at Grand Tower were modified by adding combustion turbine generators (CTGs) and heat recovery steam generators (HRSGs) to the site. The new CTGs and HRSGs provide steam to the existing steam turbines. The existing coal-fueled boilers and all associated systems will be retired in-place. The HRSGs produce steam by capturing thermal energy in the CTG exhaust that otherwise would be wasted and discharged to the atmosphere through the stacks. History Grand Tower Plant was first placed in service in November 1924, with two units capable of generating a total of 52 net megawatts. Generating capability remained at this level until construction of a 47-megawatt Unit 3 was completed on Jan. 1, 1951. This unit, combined with enhancements made to Units 1 over the years, increased Grand Tower Plant’s capacity to 125 megawatts. Construction of an even larger unit began in May 1955. The project was completed when the 104-megawatt Unit 4 was placed in service in March 1958. Units 1 and 2 were retired in September 1972. Today’s increased generation capacities for Units 3 and 4 are the result of modifications to the generators and related facilities and equipment over the years. Fuel Type The combustion turbines burn only natural gas. Emissions Several important environmental benefits were considered in Ameren’s decision to undertake the repowering project at Grand Tower Power Station. We will eliminate the need for solid waste disposal because the plant will no longer produce bottom ash and fly ash—both by-products of the coal-burning process. Sulfur dioxide emissions also will be eliminated. Nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions will be reduced to near negligible amounts. Particulates also will be reduced to negligible amounts, while opacity (the clarity of the plant's emission) will increase significantly. Protective Gear Grand Tower Plant has an around-the-clock staff of dedicated personnel to monitor equipment condition and provide required maintenance to ensure that all facilities operate reliably and at peak efficiency. Procedures and policies are in place to guard against accidents and other potential hazards.