Speedway Utilities Management Applies For Permit


(posted Oct 14)


Speedway Utilities Management LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Citizens Utilities Management LLC, is the name of the new company that will operate the proposed central utilities complex that will provide steam energy to Allison Transmission, Inc. through boiler production. The permit requests to serve retail steam to customers in Speedway, but conversation at the Speedway Redevelopment Commission focused on the energy needs for of Allison Transmission Inc .

The utility company has filed for a Minor Source Operating Permit with the City of Indianapolis Office of Environmental Air Permits to operate four boilers and an emergency diesel generator. The projected cost is $1,754,000. The boilers will fueled by natural gas. The permit cites that construction should begin by January 2008 and be operational by September.

The projected pollutants and particulate matter to be emitted will be below the levels that require a major new source construction permit.

The plant will be located in the area of Gillman and Polco Streets. Gilman does not intersect with Polco but is scheduled to be extended from Main Street in the Speed Zone master plan. This area is currently owned by Praxair and is partially covered by a large pile of lime.

At previous town council meetings, SRC President Scott Harris indicated that Citizen Gas Thermal would operate the plant and the town would not have to finance the operations.  A feasibly study released by Novi Energy in November 2006 had explored cost sharing plans between the town and Allison. On October 12, Harris insisted the town would not be involved in the financing. Citizen Gas Public Affairs Manager Dan Considine was familiar with the issue but did not have the exact details of the operations of how Citizen Gas Thermal is involved.

Amanda Hennessy of the City's Air Permits Division said the city is drafting the permit requirements and will submit it to the Indiana Department of Environmental Management for review. She expected the public hearing for the permit to be in November.