Jim Bridger Plant

Point of Rocks, Wyoming

Jim Bridger Plant is named for the renowned explorer and mountain man, John Jim Bridger. His pioneering spirit is alive today in the way this power facility has responded to its role as a low-cost energy producer, resource manager and environmental steward. Energy, a natural resource
A massive amount of energy is held by nature beneath the rugged, beautiful face of Wyoming: oil, gas, uranium, coal. That geologic legacy is the foundation of what today is one of the largest electric generating complexes in the Rocky Mountain area: the coal-fueled Jim Bridger steam-electric plant. Sub-bituminous coal stretches out for miles just beneath the surface of southwestern Wyoming; the product of forests and swamps changed by time into vast coal seams. It is the energy locked in that coal that enables this facility to produce up to 2,119,000 kilowatts of electricity per hour from four generating units. That electricity serves people throughout the West. To get the job done requires the talents of nearly 350 skilled and dedicated Wyoming residents.

The coal is crushed and transported by a four-mile-long conveyor belt from the Bridger Mine to the plant and by train from the Black Butte Mine. Here, fuel handlers mix and blend coal from different seams to gain optimum blend for a clean, efficient fuel. Once blended, the coal is conveyed inside the plant. There, pulverizers grind the coal to a talcum powder consistency. This mixture fuels the boiler. At full load, all four units will consume 1,100 tons of coal per hour. The boiler heats water to produce steam that is superheated and conducted to the turbine, driving the electric generator. Electricity produced leaves the plant on 345,000-volt transmission lines to enter the regional power grid. Spent steam is condensed back into water using cooling towers (from which billow large clouds of white water vapor, giving the plant one of its most distinctive hallmarks). The cooled water then returns to the boiler to start the process all over again. Water for the plant comes from the Green River through a 50-mile-long pipeline.

Engineered for the environment

At every step of production, the Jim Bridger Plant exemplifies an emphasis on environmental stewardship. On the mining side, the surface mines near the plant are subject to rigorous reclamation. What was grazing land before, returns to grazing land. The land is restored to original or better condition. Nesting platforms are installed for hawks. Natural grass and shrub seed is planted for cattle and wildlife grazing.

People, power and production

Converting coal into electric energy available at the flip of a switch can be described in just a few words: coal is burned to produce high-pressure steam that spins large turbine-generators, which produce electricity. In practice, this process requires a complex blending of systems. Four operating units, each with a 2,800-degree furnace, produce 1,000-degree steam, which turn turbines. At full load, the four turbines generate enough electricity to light three cities the size of Salt Lake City. To accomplish this task takes a well-trained workforce operating as a team 24-hours a day.

Coal, the starting point

The production process begins with the extraction of coal from mines located just a few miles from the plant.

How electricity is made at Jim Bridger Plant

COAL SILO

HOT REHEAT

COLD REHEAT

TRANSMISSION LINE

STEAM

COAL FROM MINE

ECONOMIZER EXCITER GENERATOR TURBINE MAIN TRANSFORMER CONDENSER BOTTOM ASH FORCED DRAFT FAN PULVERIZER COOLING TOWER PRIMARY AIR SUPPLY FLY ASH BOILER FEED PUMP FEEDER BOILER AIR PREHEATER INDUCED DRAFT FAN ELECTROSTATIC PRECIPITATOR

SCRUBBER STACK

The power production process meets Wyomings tough air and water quality standards. A by-product of coal burning is fine fly ash, which is removed from the stream of hot gasses by use of electrostatic precipitators. These precipitators trap 99.3 percent of the fly ash, much of which is marketed to the concrete industry. Jim Bridger coal is low in sulfur content. Sulfur dioxide, another by-product of combustion, is removed by scrubbers from all four units. In addition, Jim Bridger is constantly improving the containment of airborne dust through such actions as paving roads and sealing coal stockpiles. There is also strong emphasis placed on recycling of materials and seeking new ways to constructively deal with environmental issues as they arise.

Jim Bridger at a glance

Sponsoring companies: PacifiCorp Energy, Idaho Power Company Generating capacity: 2,119,000 kilowatts per hour in four units Fuel: Sub-bituminous coal is delivered to the plant by an overland conveyor from the Bridger Mine. Coal is also transported by unit train from the Black Butte Mine. Coal reserves: The Jim Bridger field has usable reserves of 140 million tons of low-sulfur coal. Plant operating personnel: 350 people are employed at the Jim Bridger Plant. Chimneys: Each of the generating units has a chimney 500 feet high. Water supply: The water supply necessary to operate the plant is delivered from the Green River through a 50-mile steel pipeline to a reservoir at the plant site. Boilers: Each of the four boilers is designed to produce 3,980,000 pounds of steam per hour at a throttle pressure of 2,400 PSI. Each consumes 275 tons of coal per hour. Per year, on average 8 million tons of coal are used. The boilers are 240 feet tall. Turbine-generators: Each of the turbine-generators has a nameplate rating of 555,100 gross kilowatts. The units are 131 feet long and weigh approximately 1 million pounds each. Completion dates: Unit 1: November 1974, capacity currently 535,000 net kilowatts Unit 2: December 1975, capacity currently 527,000 net kilowatts Unit 3: September 1976, capacity currently 527,000 net kilowatts Unit 4: December 1979, capacity currently 530,000 net kilowatts

Power network

W A S H I N G T O N

CHEHALIS ASTORIA LEWIS RIVER PROJECT TOPPENISH SUNNYSIDE GOODNOE HILLS PORTLAND LINCOLN CITY DALLAS INDEPENDENCE ALBANY CORVALLIS STAYTON LEBANON SWEET HOME JUNCTION CITY REDMOND CRESWELL COTTAGE GROVE COOS BAY/NORTH BEND ROSEBURG COQUILLE MYRTLE CREEK ROGUE RIVER PROJECT GRANTS PASS EAGLE POINT ROGUE RIVER CENTRAL POINT CAVE JUNCTION MEDFORD NORTH UMPQUA PROJECT BEND PRINEVILLE MADRAS HOOD RIVER HERMISTON LEANING JUNIPER 1 PENDLETON ENTERPRISE SALMON YAKIMA MARENGO 1 DAYTON WALLA WALLA MARENGO II

M O N T A N A

SEASIDE

COLSTRIP

O C E A N

LOVELL CODY

O R E G O N
BOISE

BUFFALO

WYODAK

I D A H O
ARCO

ST. ANTHONY

WORLAND GLENROCK ROLLING HILLS GLENROCK III

RIGBY SHELLEY

THERMOPOLIS

W Y O M I N G
RIVERTON PINEDALE LANDER CASPER DAVE JOHNSTON DOUGLAS

KLAMATH FALLS LAKEVIEW

ST. ANTHONY LAVA HOT SPRINGS

P A C I F I C

CRESCENT CITY

KLAMATH RIVER PROJECT YREKA

BIG PINEY BEAR RIVER PROJECT MALAD CITY PRESTON MONTPELIER

DUNLAP I SEVEN MILE HILL SEVEN MILE HILL II

MT. SHASTA

SMITHFIELD TREMONTON LITTLE MOUNTAIN

LAKETOWN

KEMMERER NAUGHTON GREEN RIVER

JIM BRIDGER

RAWLINS

HIGH PLAINS MCFADDEN RIDGE I

ROCK SPRINGS

FOOTE CREEK I

LARAMIE

Rocky Mountain Power and Pacific Power service area Idaho Power Company service area

OGDEN LAYTON GADSBY WEST VALLEY CITY TOOELE LAKE SIDE

EVANSTON

SALT LAKE CITY PARK CITY MIDVALE VERNAL DRAPER AMERICAN FORK PLEASANT GROVE OREM CARBON MORONI PRICE HUNTINGTON CRAIG HAYDEN

C A L I F O R N I A

Thermal plants Gas-fueled thermal plants

N E Wind projects A V A D
Geothermal plants Coal plants Principal communities served PacifiCorp-owned transmission lines P Transmission access Tr Other transmission O
BLUNDELL MILFORD DELTA GUNNISON SALINA RICHFIELD SANTAQUIN CURRANT CREEK

C O L O R A D O

CASTLE DALE HUNTER

MOAB

U T A H
PANGUITCH

CEDAR CITY

BLANDING

IVINS

LA VERKIN

PacifiCorp is one of the lowest-cost electricity producers in the United States, providing approximately 1.7 million customers in the West with reliable, efficient energy. PacifiCorp operates as Rocky Mountain Power in Utah, Wyoming and Idaho, and A R I Z O N A N E M E X C O as Pacific Power in Oregon, Washington and California. PacifiCorps electric generation, commercial and energyWtrading, Iand mining functions are operated as PacifiCorp Energy.
CHOLLA NO. 4

For more company information, please visit pacificorp.com and idahopower.com.

Recreation on the Jim Bridger Reservoir

Generating recreation opportunities with the same resources we use to generate power is one additional way we provide for the community. The recreation opportunities along the Jim Bridger Reservoir are open year round for day use. Located approximately 35 miles east of Rock Springs, Wyoming, our facilities provide river and reservoir fishing, picnicking and hiking opportunities. Visit pacificorp.com/recreation for details about recreation amenities and any fees at our recreation areas.

01/11 PC 2011 PacifiCorp