Frank Carelli Brings 22 Years of Experience at Tenaska Power Plants
KIOWA, Oklahoma – Tenaska has hired Frank Carelli to oversee operations at Tenaska Kiamichi Generating Station near Kiowa. Bringing 22 years of experience at other Tenaska facilities, Carelli replaces plant manager Buck Hunt, who has taken on a new role at Tenaska’s headquarters in Omaha, Nebraska.
“Frank is a skilled team leader and reinforces the culture of safe and reliable plant operations for which Tenaska is known,” said Todd Jonas, Tenaska senior vice president of operations and asset management.
As plant manager, Carelli is in charge of day-to-day operations, including responsibility for environmental, safety, community relations and efficiency programs.
“I am glad to join the great group of employees at Tenaska Kiamichi,” Carelli said. “They have an outstanding commitment to best-in-class operations and are good neighbors in the community.”
Carelli previously managed Tenaska Paris Cogeneration Station and Tenaska Frontier Generating Station, both in Texas, and High Desert Power Project in California, which had been a private equity investment managed by Tenaska Capital Management, LLC, and operated by a Tenaska affiliate. He holds a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from the West Virginia Institute of Technology.
Carelli succeeds Hunt, who has relocated to the Omaha area to become director of operations in Tenaska’s corporate Operations & Asset Management unit.
Tenaska Kiamichi, which has been in operation since 2003, is the largest plant in the Tenaska fleet. Fueled by clean-burning natural gas, the plant is able to produce 1,220 megawatts of electricity for Shell Energy, which markets the power.
Last year, the plant was named a Voluntary Protection Program (VPP) Star worksite, the nation’s highest safety designation. This prestigious recognition is conferred by the U.S. Department of Labor, Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA).
Tenaska Kiamichi is among the top taxpayers in Pittsburg County. It paid approximately $37 million in property taxes through 2017. Each year, the plant injects approximately $5.7 million in employee salaries and payments to local contractors and vendors into the area economy. Employees volunteer hundreds of hours to support local community and charitable projects each year.
Tenaska Kiamichi is owned by Kiowa Power Partners, LLC, which is comprised of affiliates of Tenaska, Tyr Energy, Inc. and JERA Co., Inc.
About Kiowa Power Partners, LLC
Kiowa Power Partners, LLC was formed to build, own and operate the Tenaska Kiamichi Generating Station. Affiliates of Tenaska, an energy company headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, serve as the managing partner and operator.
Media Contacts
Timberly Ross
Office: 402-691-9517
Mobile: 402-669-4073
tross@tenaska.com