Background
Big Brown Steam Electric Station was the first large-scale, lignite-fueled power plant of the modern era for Luminant. Many Luminant power plants are named after nearby bodies of water or nearby geological locations, such as Big Brown Creek. In addition to lignite from nearby mines fueling the Big Brown plant, trains bring in coal from the western United States to provide supplemental fuel.
Economic Impact to the Area
Luminant is proud to be a major contributor to the economy in areas where it maintains and operates facilities. Luminant produces an annual economic benefit of more than $1.2 billion across Texas through power plant payrolls, purchases, contracts, taxes paid and other expenditures. The annual contribution of Big Brown operations to the area economy is estimated at more than $198 million, as shown by the following table.
| Big Brown Steam Electric Station and Mine Annual Economic Impact to Area |
|
| Property Taxes Paid | $4,894,610 |
| Payroll, Contracts & other | $55,203,157 |
| Total Taxes, Payroll & other | $60,097,767 |
| Annual Economic Impact* | $198,322,631 |
| * Economic development professionals use an accepted formula (Taxes + Payroll x 3.3) to determine total attributable dollars spent in the area each year. | |
History
Unit 1 of the Big Brown Steam Electric Station began operation in 1971, and Unit 2 became operational in 1972. Concurrent with plant operation, Luminant established its Environmental Research Center at the site, where the company provides scholarships to graduate students whose studies, supervised by third-party experts, are aimed at finding new ways to protect the environment while producing energy for the future of Texas.
Environmental Equipment and Accomplishments
At Luminant, we care about the air we share. Luminant is committed to innovative leadership in managing environmental issues, including minimizing its own impact on the environment without sacrificing the interests of future generations.
As part of the overall program to protect clean air, all Luminant plants have been modified to reduce emissions, through equipment and/or operational changes. Because of these initiatives, Luminant has been a leader in reducing nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions in Texas. At Big Brown plant, electrostatic precipitators and bag house filters are used to prevent the emission of particulate matter. Special burners are used in the boiler system to reduce the formation of nitrogen oxides.
Big Brown is also home to various wildlife: osprey, bald eagles, deer, raccoons, foxes, beavers, squirrels and armadillos. Wild life tours on a nearby lake, to observe bald eagles, are popular with winter visitors.
Civic
Luminant has a rich history of community leadership through employee volunteerism, employee contributions and company financial support. Employees and their families also participate annually in "Our Day to Shine," a system-wide volunteer day benefiting area public projects and residents in need.
