Overview
Neil Simpson II is a 130 MW coal power plant in Wyoming, United States, operated by Black Hills Power Inc. It is an operational facility contributing to the regional grid.
Neil Simpson II is a coal-fired power plant located in Wyoming, United States, with a capacity of 130 megawatts. The facility is owned and operated by Black Hills Power Inc. and is currently operational. As a coal plant, it falls within the small-to-medium scale for coal power generation in the US. The plant operates under the regulatory framework of the US Clean Air Act, including the Acid Rain Program and Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR). These regulations govern emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and other pollutants. The facility's technology is typical for a coal plant of its era, likely subcritical, which influences its efficiency and environmental footprint. Neil Simpson II plays a role in meeting local electricity demand in Wyoming. Its location in a less densely populated area reduces direct population exposure to emissions. The plant's environmental significance is tied to its coal fuel source, which has higher CO2 intensity compared to natural gas or renewables, and its compliance with evolving US emission standards.
Environmental context
The plant's coal fuel source results in higher CO2, SOx, and NOx emissions per MWh compared to natural gas or renewable sources. Its location in a rural area of Wyoming reduces immediate population exposure, but emissions can contribute to regional air quality and acid deposition. The facility's age and technology (likely subcritical) mean lower efficiency and higher emission rates per unit of electricity. Regulatory programs like the Acid Rain Program and CSAPR impose emission caps and trading mechanisms to manage these impacts.
Frequently asked questions
Neil Simpson II is located in Wyoming, United States, near the coordinates 44.2856° N, -105.3833° W.
Neil Simpson II has a capacity of 130 megawatts, making it a small-to-medium scale coal power plant.
Neil Simpson II is owned and operated by Black Hills Power Inc.
Coal power plants in the US must comply with the Clean Air Act, including the Acid Rain Program (Title IV) and the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR), which set limits on SO2 and NOx emissions.
Coal power plants of this size and era typically use subcritical boiler technology, which has lower efficiency and higher emissions compared to supercritical or ultra-supercritical plants.