The Stony Brook Power Plant is a petroleum-fired power station located in Ludlow, MA on a 350-acre site.[3]
It is owned by a number of parties, but 90.75%[2] 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.[3]
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.[3][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.[3]
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.[5][6] Additionally, recent maintenance has extended the lifespan of the plant through 2030.[4]
References
