Overview
High Bridge is a 644 MW gas power plant in Saint Paul, Minnesota, operated by Northern States Power Co - Minnesota. It provides electricity to the regional grid.
High Bridge is a gas-fired power generation facility located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States. With a capacity of 644 megawatts, it operates as a medium-to-large scale plant within the state's power generation mix. The plant is owned and operated by Northern States Power Co - Minnesota, a subsidiary of Xcel Energy, and serves the Upper Midwest region. The plant utilizes natural gas as its primary fuel, a cleaner-burning fossil fuel compared to coal. Gas plants of this era often employ combined-cycle or simple-cycle gas turbine technology. The facility operates under the regulatory framework of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Air Act, including New Source Performance Standards and the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule, which govern emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and other pollutants. High Bridge plays a key role in meeting the electricity demands of the Minneapolis-Saint Paul metropolitan area. Its location near the Mississippi River provides access to cooling water and fuel transport. The plant's gas-fired operation contributes to lower carbon intensity compared to coal plants, supporting regional efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions while maintaining grid reliability.
Environmental context
The plant's gas-fired operation results in lower CO2, SOx, and NOx emissions compared to coal-fired plants, but still contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Its location in an urban area (Saint Paul) means emissions impact a populated region, though modern gas plants typically have advanced emission controls. The plant's capacity of 644 MW places it in a moderate scale, with potential for significant local air quality impacts if not equipped with best available control technology.
Frequently asked questions
High Bridge is located in Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States, near the Mississippi River.
The High Bridge power plant has a capacity of 644 megawatts (MW), making it a medium-to-large scale gas-fired facility.
The plant is owned and operated by Northern States Power Co - Minnesota, a subsidiary of Xcel Energy.
Gas power plants in the U.S. must comply with the Clean Air Act, including New Source Performance Standards (NSPS) for emissions of SO2, NOx, and particulate matter, as well as the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR) for regional air quality.
The primary fuel used at High Bridge is natural gas, which produces lower emissions compared to coal but still contributes to carbon dioxide emissions.