Aconex has won a contract from Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) to support the environmental upgrade of its San Juan Generating Station located near Farmington.
The 1,848MW plant, featuring four coal-fired boilers, is in the midst of the Navajo Nation, releases more than 18,000t of nitrogen oxide gases (NOx), and primarily impacts indigenous communities in the Four Corners region.
The latest upgrades are part of an agreement reached between PNM, the New Mexico Environment Department and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in February 2013 to pursue a revised plan for San Juan to comply with federal environmental and visibility rules.
According to the plan, PNM has agreed to retire units 2 and 3 by the end of 2017 and install nitrogen-oxide reducing technology, known as selective non-catalytic reduction technology, on the remaining two units in early 2016.
The retrofit plan, which was proposed by the EPA to limit haze-forming air pollution, would reduce NOx emissions by more than 90% using controls, while curbing water usage and coal combustion byproducts.
The plan will also improve visibility in Mesa Verde National Park, Bandelier National Monument and other pristine landscapes by 40%.
Under the environmental upgrade project, which is estimated to cost around $100m, PNM will use the Aconex Online Collaboration Platform, which will manage project information and processes across a multi-company design, engineering and construction team.
Aconex claims the platform will maintain a complete, accurate audit trail of all project activities and communications for compliance and reporting purposes, while different sections on the team can share documents, drawings and correspondence on the platform for improved efficiency and risk management.
PNM Resources executive director, generation development Evelin Wheeler said the company has selected Aconex for the San Juan Generating Station environmental upgrade project for many reasons.
"Unlike internal file-sharing software, the Aconex platform provides access to project information and implements standard processes across multiple independent contractors, consultants and vendors. It also supports web-like searches that allow us to quickly find information," said Wheeler.
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