Project Description 

The AES lake unloading project (LUP)  will consist of several components.   An open type pier system, approximately 3,200 feet in length, will be constructed in a north-south orientation extending from the shoreline of Lake Ontario.  The pier will be an "H" pile design with three concrete capped caisson type breasting dolphins at the pier's end.  The three breasting cells will be constructed of sheet piling driven to refusal with stone filling and concrete caps. In addition to the mooring function, this area would house the unloading hopper and transfer point to the inhaul conveyor. The transfer point and inhaul conveyor would be equipped with a fugitive dust suppression system. The length of the pier was determined by detailed bathymetric analysis to establish a reliable minimum water depth of 33' required for loaded ships without having to dredge the lake bottom.  The LUP will be designed to accommodate typical great lakes ships approximately 750 feet in length with a 26,000 ton capacity and 26'-3" draft.  This configuration will accommodate vessels that can pass through the St. Lawrence Seaway and Welland Canal lock systems.  Vessels will be moored on the east side of the pier in a north-south line parallel to the pier. The LUP horizontal in-haul conveyor system will be designed to handle raw material at a rate of 3,000 standard tons per hour (stph) of coal.  In addition to coal the LUP will be designed to handle petroleum coke and limestone.  An inhaul receiving hopper, the in-haul conveyor tail pulley and a gangway landing area will be located approximately 200 feet from the pier's end along with a a light-duty (1 ton) jib crane for maintenance of the LUP pier equipment.Along the pier, groups of  "H" piles will be spaced at a 200

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The pier will be anchored to a concrete abutment on the bluff, above the shoreline.  Once on-shore the in-haul conveyor will run approximately 1,625 feet south, over the existing facility adjacent to the existing power block within the plant complex before reaching a new transfer house where material will be directed through a system of modified transfer shoots to their destination within the plants existing storage areas. The limestone storage area will be modified to accommodate a traveling discharge.

AES Lake Unloading Project (LUP) - Fact Sheet    

• AES plans to use its extensive development and operating experience to develop a lake unloading facility, at its existing electric power generation site in Niagara County. AES plans on investing $25,000,000 in the construction of the facility as part of an ongoing effort to enhance operating efficiencies and reliability.

• The LUP is a major economic development initiative for Niagara County and will create over 100 good paying union construction jobs over several years of construction.

• The LUP will generate new tax revenues for Niagara County, the Town of Somerset and the Barker School District.

• The LUP helps to retain over 150 union and management positions at the AES electric generating facility.

• The LUP will be utilized to deliver products such as coal and other bulk commodities via self-unloading ships to the AES generating facility.

• AES estimates that the total annual value of raw materials to be delivered from the LUP will be approximately $100,000,000.

• The LUP project will provide alternative access to this multi-modal site expanding the potential for access to the resources of the Great Lakes Region and global markets.

• The LUP will contribute to national energy security by providing another alternative in fuel delivery to the facility which allows an advanced clean coal generating facility an abundant and secure fuel source avoiding the supply interruptions and price volatility often associated with natural gas and oil.

• The LUP will promote fuel diversity to balance New York State's energy portfolio and stabilize energy costs to commercial and residential customers.

• The LUP provides national and regional homeland security benefits by providing a dual transportation source for essential raw materials necessary for the uninterrupted operation of part of New York's critical energy infrastructure.

• AES has invested significant financial resources in advanced technology and environmental controls to make the Somerset power plant the cleanest and most efficient coal facility in New York State and among one of the best performing generating stations in the United States.