W.S. Lee Steam Station

The Lee Steam Station originally had three coal-fired units with a total electrical generating capacity of 370 MW. These units had electrostatic precipitators for the control of particulate matter in the exhaust. In 2004, nitrogen oxides emission controls were installed. The station also had three combustion turbines, which were replaced by two 42 MW turbines in 2007. In 2014, two of the coal-fired units were decommissioned. The third was converted to 180 MW natural-gas boiler in 2015. ==Natural Gas Era==

In 2018 it began operating two combined-cycle, natural-gas fired turbines. ==Coal Ash==

As with many coal burning plants, the W.S. Lee Station has coal ash basins and other combustion residuals stored onsite. There were two active ash basins, an inactive ash basin, an ash structural fill, and an ash fill totaling about 3.2 million tons of ash. A geotechnical consultant indicated in 2010 that the active basins pose a potential threat if the embankments were to fail. Duke energy said that it would excavate the inactive basin and the ash fill, remove the ash, and haul it to a landfill near Homer, Georgia. The active basins and the structural landfill would be excavated and put in a lined landfill. Status of coal ash basin closure is available for all Duke Energy plants. ==References==