Burnside Alumina Plant: 12 MW Gas Power Plant in Burnside, Louisiana

Burnside Alumina Plant is a gas-fired power generation facility located in Burnside, Louisiana, United States. With a capacity of 12 MW, it is a small-scale plant within the US power sector, owned and operated by Almatis Burnside Inc. The plant is operational and serves the local industrial area. The facility uses natural gas as its primary fuel, a cleaner-burning fossil fuel compared to coal. In the US, gas-fired plants like this one are subject to federal regulations under the Clean Air Act, including New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) and the Acid Rain Program. The plant's small capacity suggests it may use reciprocating engines or simple-cycle gas turbines, typical for industrial cogeneration or backup power. Environmentally, the plant's gas fuel source results in lower CO2, SOx, and NOx emissions per MWh compared to coal-fired plants. Its location in Louisiana, a state with significant petrochemical and refining activity, means it likely supports local industrial processes. The plant's modest size limits its regional grid impact but provides reliable power for its host facility.

The Burnside Alumina Plant operates in Louisiana's industrial corridor along the Mississippi River, an area with dense petrochemical and refining infrastructure. Its gas-fired generation produces lower CO2 and SOx emissions than coal plants, but NOx emissions still require control under the Clean Air Act. The plant's 12 MW capacity and location near populated areas necessitate compliance with local air quality standards to minimize community exposure.