Lackawanna Energy Center
Jessup, PA
GSET’s geotechnical services stabilized ENR’s MidAtlantic’s 2019 Best Project!
The Lackawanna Energy Center (LEC), in Jessup, PA, is a 1,485MW natural gas-fired combined-cycle power plant equipped with some of the newest natural-gas-powered turbine technologies. The facility can power over 1 million homes and contributes approximately $50 million to the region’s revenue. LEC has replaced the old coal-fired power plants in the area leading to a pronounced, better air quality for the region. This would ultimately help Pennsylvania achieve the new carbon emissions reduction targets set by the Environmental Protection Agency.
The project was praised by ENR for incorporating a 28-month timeline for a complex construction strategy, resulting in improved turbine performance. LEC was completed ahead of schedule and under budget, while exceeding safety targets and expectations.
Project Highlights
- GSET was contracted as the lead geotechnical engineering consultant for LEC, which is located in a brownfield site above an abandoned coal mine so preparation of the construction site was extremely complex.
- GSET’s site preparation included a due diligence study prior to construction, a mining evaluation, development and implementation of a void mitigation program.
- Performed the construction materials testing and inspection for the complex.
- Excavation of 1 million cubic yards of material, including a half-million cubic yards of drilled and blasted rock.
- The abandoned, former anthracite mine was then stabilized by pumping 16,000 cu yd of grout in 2,200 drilled holes, creating a solid foundation for the plant.
