Overview
Crete is a 6 MW gas power plant in Crete, Nebraska, operated by the City of Crete. It serves the local community with natural gas-fired electricity generation.
Crete is a natural gas power plant located in Crete, Nebraska, United States. With a capacity of 6 MW, it is a small-scale facility that provides electricity to the local area. The plant is owned and operated by the City of Crete and is currently operational. The plant uses natural gas as its primary fuel, a cleaner-burning fossil fuel compared to coal. As a small municipal facility, it likely operates under the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Air Act regulations, including New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for stationary gas turbines. The plant's size and fuel type place it in a category with lower emissions per unit of electricity compared to larger coal-fired plants. Crete plays a role in the local energy grid, providing power to the community of Crete and surrounding areas. Its small capacity suggests it may serve as a peaking plant or support local distribution. The plant's operation contributes to the diversification of the region's energy mix, complementing other sources like wind and solar in Nebraska.
Environmental context
The plant's use of natural gas results in lower CO2, SOx, and NOx emissions per MWh compared to coal or oil. Its small capacity (6 MW) limits its overall environmental footprint. Located in a rural area, the plant's impact on local air quality is minimal. However, natural gas extraction and transport can have upstream environmental effects, including methane leakage.
Frequently asked questions
The Crete gas power plant is located in Crete, Nebraska, United States, at coordinates 40.6253, -96.9601.
The Crete power plant has a capacity of 6 megawatts (MW), making it a small-scale natural gas facility.
The Crete power plant is owned and operated by the City of Crete, a municipal utility.
Gas power plants in the U.S. are regulated under the Clean Air Act, including New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for greenhouse gases and pollutants like NOx and SO2. The EPA's Acid Rain Program and Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) may also apply.
At 6 MW, the Crete plant is significantly smaller than large combined-cycle gas turbine (CCGT) plants, which often exceed 500 MW. It is typical of small municipal peaking or backup plants.