Overview
Equilon Los Angeles Refining is an 83 MW gas power plant in Los Angeles, California, operated by Tesoro Refining and Marketing Company. It provides electricity to the local grid.
Equilon Los Angeles Refining is a gas-fired power plant located in Los Angeles, California, United States. With a capacity of 83 MW, it is a small-scale facility within the US power generation sector. The plant is owned and operated by Tesoro Refining and Marketing Company and is currently operational. The plant operates on natural gas, a cleaner-burning fossil fuel compared to coal. In the United States, gas power plants are subject to federal regulations under the Clean Air Act, including National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and the Acid Rain Program. The facility's size and fuel type place it in a category that typically requires compliance with emissions limits for NOx and SO2. As part of the Los Angeles metropolitan area, this plant contributes to the region's electricity supply, supporting residential, commercial, and industrial demand. Its location in a densely populated area underscores the importance of emissions control technologies to minimize local air quality impacts.
Environmental context
The plant's gas fuel type results in lower CO2 emissions per MWh compared to coal, but still contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Its location in the Los Angeles basin, an area with high population density and air quality challenges, means that NOx and other pollutants are closely regulated under state and federal programs. Typical gas plants of this size may use combined cycle or simple cycle technology.
Frequently asked questions
Equilon Los Angeles Refining is located in Los Angeles, California, United States, at coordinates 33.791700, -118.234700.
The plant has a capacity of 83 megawatts (MW), making it a small-scale gas power plant.
The plant is owned and operated by Tesoro Refining and Marketing Company.
Gas power plants in the US are regulated under the Clean Air Act, including NAAQS for local pollutants and the Acid Rain Program for SO2 and NOx emissions. They may also be subject to state-level emissions standards.
Gas power plants produce lower CO2 emissions than coal plants but still emit greenhouse gases. They also emit NOx and other pollutants, which are regulated to protect air quality, especially in urban areas like Los Angeles.