GARLAND, Texas, March 14, 2005 -- Garland Power & Light (GP&L) is actively pursuing renewable energy, with a hydroelectric plant already in operation near Denton and plans for wind turbines north of Garland.

About 20 miles from GP&L’s Spencer Plant in Denton, the Lewisville Hydroelectric (Hydro) Plant has been returned to active service producing renewable energy. This hydro plant was built in 1991, but had been inactive for a couple of years until after its inclusion in the City’s purchase of the Spencer Plant in 2003.

GP&L staff “took a lot of tender care in bringing the inactive unit back to life,” said Frank Hoelscher, Operations and Maintenance Administrator at the Spencer Plant. The reactivation required thorough attention to all the seals and the delicate equipment in the hydro turbine system.

The Lewisville Hydro Plant is unique among GP&L’s power plants in that it doesn’t produce steam. Rather, the hydro turbine, which is powered by water released by the Army Corps of Engineers from Lake Lewisville, is connected directly to a generator. This plant produces 1.7 megawatts of electricity.

“It’s nice to know we’re contributing to green power for Garland citizens,” said Hoelscher.

Several miles north of Garland, operators at GP&L’s Olinger Plant have been tracking data to determine the economic feasibility of wind turbines. “We currently have two sites near the plant where we could locate wind turbines,” said Production Administrator David Bernard.

Wind power may come to the Olinger Plant as early as 2006, when it is planned as a Capital Improvement Project.