(FREMONT, OH) American Municipal Power, Inc. (AMP) celebrated the ribbon cutting at the Fremont Energy Center. About 150 people attended the event, including representatives of AMP, its member communities and local officials, including Fremont Mayor Terry Overmyer.

The AMP Fremont Energy Center (AFEC) is a 707 megawatt (fired) natural gas combined cycle (NGCC) facility, which will supply power to 85 participating AMP member communities. The Delaware Municipal Electric Corporation, the Central Virginia Electric Cooperative and the Michigan Public Power Agency will also purchase power from the facility.

In July, AMP completed purchase of the facility from FirstEnergy Generation Corp., a subsidiary of Akron-based FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE).

AFEC will be an important source of intermediate power to participants. Intermediate power is energy needed Monday – Friday during the 16 highest demand hours. As an intermediate power source AFEC has a capacity of 544 MW. Additionally, the facility includes duct-firing that allows an additional 163 MW of generation during peak demand periods.

“AFEC fits well with AMP’s overall power supply strategy of reducing its members’ long-term reliance on wholesale power markets through development of diverse generation assets,” AMP President & CEO Marc Gerken said. “AMP members presently rely on the wholesale market for more than 90 percent of their intermediate power supply needs. Based on AMP members’ long-term power supply analysis, the Fremont facility will provide a cost-effective, environmentally friendly, asset-based alternative to wholesale energy and capacity markets.”

AMP is currently in the process of commissioning, startup and other activities. The plant will begin commercial operation early in 2012.

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