ITT Cogen Facility: Gas Cogeneration Plant in Chicago, Illinois

ITT Cogen Facility is a gas-fired cogeneration plant located in Chicago, Illinois, United States. With a capacity of 7.4 MW, it is a small-scale power generation facility that primarily serves the Illinois Institute of Technology campus. The plant is currently operational and owned by the university. The facility operates on natural gas, a cleaner-burning fossil fuel compared to coal, and its cogeneration design improves overall efficiency by capturing waste heat for thermal applications. 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, which set limits on emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and particulate matter. As a combined heat and power (CHP) facility, ITT Cogen contributes to the energy resilience and sustainability goals of the Illinois Institute of Technology. Its small capacity and efficient technology reduce its environmental footprint relative to larger, less efficient plants. The facility supports the campus's energy needs while operating within the regulatory framework designed to protect air quality.

The ITT Cogen Facility uses natural gas, which produces lower CO2 emissions per MWh than coal or oil, but still contributes to greenhouse gas emissions. Its location in an urban area (Chicago) means emissions affect a densely populated region, though the plant's small size and cogeneration efficiency mitigate local air quality impacts. The facility is subject to US EPA regulations under the Clean Air Act, including NAAQS for criteria pollutants and the Acid Rain Program for SO2 and NOx.