Frequently asked questions

Tenaska has been a good business neighbor in Oklahoma for over 25 years. We have built positive relationships here and feel like a welcomed and valued member of the community. With the growing market demand for reliable power in this region and the existing infrastructure, including existing natural gas pipelines and power transmission corridors, we assessed the opportunity to bring additional investment here. 

Since 2023, our team has been talking to local leaders about the best way to meet Creek County’s needs. Our initial plans for Railhead Generating Station have been welcomed by local leaders, and we look forward to working with the community to bring this project and its economic benefits to fruition.

Forecasts show that power demand in Oklahoma will continue to grow; the Southwest Power Pool’s latest projections indicate that the current peak load on its system could nearly double within the next 10 years. With the development and construction of a new power plant spanning three to five years or more, there is a need to plan now for additional power generation.

As currently envisioned, the combined-cycle facility would be able to generate up to 1,400 megawatts, enough to reliably power approximately 1.4 million homes.

There are existing transmission lines on the current site. No additional power lines will need to be constructed outside of the site boundary to accommodate the facility.

Tenaska has been talking with neighbors in the vicinity of the proposed location since 2023. While there will be some increased activity during construction, the operating facility should have minimal impact on neighbors.

The power plant would encompass up to 50 acres of the 480-acre site; the rest will remain wooded as a buffer, which will help limit sound and viewshed impacts. Outdoor lighting at the facility will be pointed downward and inward and will be warm in color. Neutral paint colors and landscaping will enhance the aesthetic look of the facility.

There are a number of factors that influence property values and the housing market. It has been our experience with other Tenaska projects of similar size and design that property values have not been negatively affected by plant operations. In fact, the jobs and increased tax revenue for the community typically have a positive impact on local schools and other amenities that factor into property values.

To ensure the reliability of the electric grid amid the generation options available today, fossil fuels will need to be utilized. This facility will operate primarily on natural gas with ultra-low sulfur diesel (ULSD) as a backup in rare times when natural gas is not available. Natural gas is the cleanest fuel for dispatchable peaking power generation.

The emissions most commonly associated with natural gas-fueled plants are nitrogen oxides (NOx) and carbon monoxide (CO). However, through the combination of natural gas as the primary fuel, the state-of-the-art design and the use of best available control technology, emissions will be limited. Best available control technology (BACT) will include oxidation catalyst and selective catalytic reduction (SCR) for emissions control.

Finally, the project will need to apply for and obtain a Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) Permit from the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality. That is a thorough permitting process that will require an analysis of air quality impacts to ensure that all applicable state and federal standards are met. Public comment will be taken as part of that permitting process.

Safety is of utmost importance to Tenaska, and we work hard to design a safe plant that is protective of the employees, residents and wildlife. This has been demonstrated through the safe operations of the entire Tenaska fleet, including the Tenaska Kiamichi facility. The fleet encompasses approximately 6,600 megawatts of generation. More than 70% of Tenaska’s operating fleet, including Tenaska Kiamichi, currently maintains Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Star status, which is conferred by the U.S. Department of Labor Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and is considered the nation’s highest safety designation.

Additionally, the air and water discharge permits that the facility is required to obtain and comply with are intended to be protective of human health and the environment.

Impacts to wildlife are expected to be minimal. We will conduct various on-site environmental studies prior to the start of construction to understand and mitigate potential impacts on wildlife. The project will comply with all applicable state and federal requirements associated with wildlife, including the Endangered Species Act, Bald and Golden Eagle Protection Act, and Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Additionally, the project’s air and water discharge permits will be protective of both human health and wildlife.

To bring the project to fruition, major permits include, but are not limited to:

• Local permits and approvals (Creek County)
• Prevention of Significant Deterioration (PSD) Air Quality Permit
• Title V Air Operating Permit
• National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Water Discharge Permit
• Clean Water Act Section 404 Permit
• Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Determination
• Construction Stormwater General NPDES Permit

Tenaska had been developing the Hawthorn CCS Hub in the area since 2023. At this time, we are pivoting our focus to a natural gas power plant. Tenaska still has the capabilities to integrate CCS with the Railhead Generating Station in the future, based on customer need.

Tenaska understands the importance of two-way communication about the project and the need to be responsive to questions. At any time, you can fill out our contact form or email community@railheadgenerating.com with questions.

Tenaska has been talking with neighbors in the vicinity of the proposed location since 2023. We will continue to talk with local leaders and community members about our plans.

Additionally, there will be defined public comment processes as part of the various approvals needed for this project to move forward.