Generation
In the utility world, generation is simply a word that describes the process of creating electricity.
While electricity can be generated any number of ways, the most common method used in the United States is by burning fuels, such as coal, to heat water and transform it into steam. The steam then flows through a rotary device called a turbine, causing it to spin. A device attached to the turbine, known as a generator, uses that spinning in conjunction with magnets to create an electrical current.
While coal continues to be the US' most prevalent fuel source for generating electricity, there are many other fuels to be considered. Wabash Valley Power operates plants that burn refinery wastes (also known as petroleum coke), methane gases from landfills and animal waste, and turbines driven by wind to generate electricity. As Congress and the EPA consider ways to limit the emission of greenhouse gases, Wabash Valley Power has been proactively expanding its fuel mix. In 2010, for example, coal only fuels about 66% of the electricity generated by the G&T.