Austin Energy has proposed limiting the use of its Nacogdoches Power ST biomass plant in Nacogdoches County, Texas.

The 100-MW facility will be used on a seasonal basis and will be switched offline on Oct. 16, according to a notification of suspension of operations that project owner Nacogdoches Power LLC submitted to the Electric Reliability Council of Texas Inc. on May 19. The grid operator is taking comments on the notification through June 9. Starting in 2021, the plant will operate from May 15 until Oct. 15 annually.

Austin Energy's vice president of power production, Pat Sweeney, confirmed the city-owned utility's plans.

"This change reflects how the plant has been used historically, primarily in the higher-energy demand summer months," Sweeney said in an emailed statement on May 28, adding that seasonal operation will allow the company to use the plant, which is primarily powered by wood waste, more efficiently.

"[It] will simplify operational planning and not require the plant to be on standby year-round," said Sweeney, who said that there are no plans to reduce staffing at the plant.

Austin Energy acquired the facility from Southern Co. subsidiary Southern Power Co. in a $460 million deal that closed in June 2019. The Austin utility had been buying the plant's output since it began operating in 2012. When the plant came online, it was the largest biomass power generation facility in the U.S.