Cellu Tissue Gas Power Plant | East Hartford, Connecticut

Cellu Tissue is a gas-fired power plant located in East Hartford, Connecticut, United States. With a capacity of 3 MW, it is a small-scale facility primarily serving the energy needs of the adjacent industrial site. The plant is owned and operated by Dunn Paper East Hartford LLC and is currently operational. The plant uses natural gas as its primary fuel, a cleaner-burning fossil fuel compared to coal or oil. As a small-scale gas plant, it likely employs reciprocating engines or gas turbines typical for such capacities. In the United States, gas power plants are subject to emissions regulations under the Clean Air Act, including New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) and National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS). The facility's size may qualify it for simpler permitting requirements under state and federal rules. Cellu Tissue contributes to the local grid reliability and supports the industrial operations of the Dunn Paper facility. Its location in East Hartford places it within a region with diverse power generation mix, including natural gas, nuclear, and renewables. The plant's small capacity means it has a relatively modest environmental footprint compared to larger utility-scale plants.

The plant's use of natural gas results in lower emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and particulate matter compared to coal, but it still produces carbon dioxide (CO2) and nitrogen oxides (NOx). Its location in an industrial area of East Hartford may have moderate air quality concerns, but the small capacity limits overall impact. The facility operates under the Clean Air Act and state regulations, which require emissions controls and monitoring.