Jul. 1--With construction crews working around the clock, the new power generating station north of Maxwell is ahead of schedule.

Pacific Gas and Electric Co. planned to have the new $360 million power plant up and running by November 2010.

"We hope to beat that," said Tom Miller, senior project manager. "Construction has been going well."

The California Energy Commission approved the environmentally friendly plant 14 months ago. Crews have worked nonstop since last July, Miller said.

The new plant will produce up to 660 megawatts of electricity, enough to power about 500,000 homes, according to PG&E spokesman Brian Swanson.

Fueled by natural gas, the new facility will yield 35 percent less carbon dioxide for every megawatt-hour of power produced, said PG&E Senior Environmentalist Charles Price of Colusa.

Construction crews have completed much of the towering framework for the massive natural gas combustible turbines and cooling fans, as well as the foundation.

"It's a rewarding job that we do," said Warren Peirce, construction manager. "It's like watching a child grow up."

The Maxwell generating station and electrical switchyard will comprise 31 acres of a 100-acre parcel west of Interstate 5, which is located next to the existing PG&E natural gas compressor station and the company's 230,000-volt transmission line and natural gas pipeline. It is similar to the Gateway plant north of Antioch that was completed earlier this year.

The station will use state-of-the-art, dry-cooling technology and will use 97 percent less water than a facility with a conventional waterâ?"cooling system, Peirce said.

There are more than 350 construction workers and craftsmen working on the plant, many carpooling from the Sacramento area or living in and around Colusa and Glenn counties.

Miller said union workers are required for all "hands-on" work at the plant, but that PG&E uses local vendors for supplies and fuel whenever possible.

Once completed, the generating station will employ 25-30 full-time people and operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Contact Susan Meeker at 458-2121 or smeeker@tcnpress.com.

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