Stony Brook Power Plant

The Stony Brook Power Plant is a petroleum-fired power station located in Ludlow, MA on a 350-acre site.[2] It was the first power plant in Massachusetts to use combined-cycle technology.[3]

Stony Brook Power Plant
CountryUnited States
Coordinates42°11′45″N 72°30′15″W
StatusOperational
Commission date1981
Owner(s)Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company, Green Mountain Power Corporation, Lyndonville, Vermont,[1]
Operator(s)Glenn Corbiere
Power generation
Units operational2
Units planned1
Nameplate capacity517 Megawatts (MW)
Capacity factor85.7%
External links
WebsiteOfficial Website

It is owned by a number of parties, but the majority of it is owned by the Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company (MMWEC).[1] The plant consists of two generating units. The Stony Brook Intermediate Unit generates 354 MW of electricity with its three combined-cycle turbines that can burn either petroleum or natural gas. The Stony Brook Peaking Unit is a 172 MW peaking unit which runs during periods on high demand using petroleum.[1] These units provide electricity to 24 municipalities in Massachusetts.[2]

History

Since 1976, the plant has been financed with a number of bonds that have granted partial ownership to the Green Mountain Power Corporation and the town of Lyndonville, Vermont.[2][4] The first unit was constructed in 1981 with the second unit being constructed the following year in 1982.[1] Originally the units were designed with the intention of running solely on petroleum, but were later converted to dual-fuel in 1983 when natural gas became available.[2]

In 2006, MMWEC began considering the construction of a third combined-cycle natural gas 280 MW unit. It received approval from the Ludlow Board of Selectmen the same year with the expected date of completion in mid-2010. The unit has not yet been completed, as MMWEC has cited a need for additional funding before the project is can be completed. The town does not plan to provide this funding.[3][5] Additionally, recent maintenance has extended the lifespan of the plant through 2030.[4]

References
  1. "Stony Brook". mmwec.org. MMWEC. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
  2. "Stony Brook Energy Center". ccj-online. Combined Cycle Journal. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
  3. "MMWEC's Stony Brook plant turns 25". Public Power (46). Public Power. November 20, 2006. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
  4. Varela, Robert (July 31, 2014). "MMWEC retires bonds for portion of its interests in nuclear plants". Public Power Daily. Public Power Daily. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
  5. PATRICIA, ROY. "Board updated on Stony Brook power plant". The Landmark. The Landmark. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
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