Homer City Generating Station - History

History

Until its construction in the 1960s by the Pennsylvania Electric Co. (PenElec) and others, much of the property was owned by the Benamati family. In 1969, generating units #1 and #2 began operation, while unit #3 began operating in 1977.

CNN online edition reported that six workers were injured on Thursday, February 10, 2011, when a six-inch, high-pressure steam pipe ruptured and caused an explosion on the sixth floor of a building. Three men were flown by medical helicopter to Pittsburgh hospitals, where they were listed in fair condition. Three others were taken to an Indiana County hospital where they were treated and released. The blast happened about 7:45 AM on Power Plant Road off of Route 119. The company says the plant has an "exceptional" safety record with only one incident reported in the last 856 days. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has been called in to investigate the cause of the explosion. In the meantime, the unit where the explosion occurred had been shut down. No power interruptions will occur.

In 2001, affiliates of the General Electric bought the plant in 2001 from Edison, and leased it back to Edison. In 2011, Edison International failed to secure financing to add pollution-control devices and announced plans to transfer full control of the plant to General Electric. On February 29, 2012, Edison took a $1 billion impairment charge related to the Homer City plant and several other coal-fired power plants. As of March 2012, GE was awaiting government approval to install emissions control equipment.