Overview
H. Gonzales is an 11.8 MW gas power plant in Vernon, California, owned by the City of Vernon. It operates as a small-scale facility within the US power generation sector.
H. Gonzales is a gas-fired power plant located in Vernon, California, United States. With a capacity of 11.8 MW, it is a small-scale facility in the context of US power generation, which includes large combined-cycle gas turbine plants exceeding 500 MW. The plant is owned by the City of Vernon and is currently operational. The plant operates under the regulatory framework of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), including the Clean Air Act (CAA) and its National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), as well as programs like the Acid Rain Program and the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR). As a gas-fired plant, it benefits from lower CO2, SOx, and NOx emissions compared to coal-fired facilities, though its age and technology (subcritical vs. H. Gonzales serves the local community of Vernon, an industrial city in Los Angeles County. Its small capacity suggests a role in peak shaving or local grid support rather than baseload generation. The plant's environmental impact is relatively low due to its fuel type and size, but its proximity to urban areas may require adherence to stringent local air quality regulations.
Environmental context
The plant's gas fuel type results in lower CO2, SOx, and NOx emissions compared to coal or oil plants, reducing its local air quality impact. However, its location in Vernon, a densely populated industrial area near Los Angeles, means it operates under strict EPA and California Air Resources Board (CARB) regulations. The small capacity (11.8 MW) limits its overall environmental footprint, but methane leakage from gas extraction and transport remains a concern.
Frequently asked questions
H. Gonzales is located in Vernon, California, United States, at coordinates 33.9986 N, -118.2219 W.
H. Gonzales has a capacity of 11.8 megawatts (MW), making it a small-scale gas-fired power plant.
H. Gonzales is owned by the City of Vernon, a municipality in Los Angeles County, California.
Gas power plants in the US must comply with the Clean Air Act (CAA), including NAAQS, the Acid Rain Program, and CSAPR. State-level regulations, such as those from the California Air Resources Board (CARB), may also apply.
With 11.8 MW capacity, H. Gonzales is much smaller than typical combined-cycle gas plants in California, which often exceed 500 MW. It likely serves a local or peaking role.