Overview
Packaging Corp of America operates a 72.5 MW biomass power plant in the United States, utilizing waste as primary fuel to generate electricity.
Packaging Corp of America is a biomass power plant located in the United States, with coordinates 35.047100, -88.266100. The facility has a capacity of 72.5 MW and uses waste as its primary fuel source, placing it within the small to medium scale for biomass power generation in the country. The plant operates under the regulatory framework of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), including the Clean Air Act (CAA) and associated standards such as the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and the Acid Rain Program. Biomass power plants in the US are subject to emissions limits for pollutants like SOx, NOx, and particulate matter, and may also comply with state-level renewable portfolio standards. As an operational biomass facility, Packaging Corp of America contributes to the local energy grid by converting waste materials into electricity, supporting waste management and renewable energy goals. The plant's location in the southeastern US aligns with regional biomass availability, and its operation by a packaging company suggests integration with industrial processes for energy recovery.
Environmental context
The plant's use of waste as fuel reduces landfill disposal and associated methane emissions, but combustion of biomass releases CO2, SOx, NOx, and particulate matter. Proximity to populated areas may raise air quality concerns under the EPA's NAAQS. The 72.5 MW capacity indicates moderate scale, with environmental impact dependent on emission control technologies and fuel composition.
Frequently asked questions
Packaging Corp of America is located in the United States at coordinates 35.047100, -88.266100.
It is a biomass power plant that uses waste as its primary fuel to generate electricity.
The plant has a capacity of 72.5 megawatts (MW).
The plant must comply with the US Clean Air Act, including NAAQS for air pollutants, and may be subject to state renewable energy standards.
The plant is owned by Packaging Corp of America, a packaging company.