Overview
Lonesome Creek Station is a 302.5 MW gas-fired power plant operated by Basin Electric Power Coop in North Dakota, USA. It provides electricity to the regional grid under US EPA regulatory frameworks.
Lonesome Creek Station is a natural gas power plant located in North Dakota, United States, with a capacity of 302.5 megawatts. Owned and operated by Basin Electric Power Coop, the facility is currently operational and contributes to the region's power generation mix. The plant operates under the regulatory oversight of the US Environmental Protection Agency, complying with the Clean Air Act, including the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and the Acid Rain Program. As a gas-fired facility, it benefits from lower emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides compared to coal-fired plants, aligning with modern environmental standards. Lonesome Creek Station plays a key role in supplying electricity to the local community and supporting the grid's reliability. Its gas-fired technology offers operational flexibility, helping to balance intermittent renewable sources. The plant's location in North Dakota places it within a region with significant energy infrastructure, contributing to the state's energy portfolio.
Environmental context
The plant's gas-fired technology results in lower CO2, SOx, and NOx emissions per megawatt-hour compared to coal-fired plants, reducing its local air quality impact. Its location in a rural area of North Dakota minimizes exposure to dense populations, though regional air quality is subject to EPA NAAQS compliance. The facility's capacity of 302.5 MW places it in the medium-scale range for gas plants, with typical environmental considerations including methane leakage from gas extraction and combustion.
Frequently asked questions
Lonesome Creek Station is located in North Dakota, United States, near coordinates 47.7967 N, -103.5786 W.
Lonesome Creek Station has a generating capacity of 302.5 megawatts, using natural gas as its primary fuel.
Lonesome Creek Station is owned by Basin Electric Power Coop, a generation and transmission cooperative serving member systems in the region.
As a US power plant, Lonesome Creek Station must comply with the Clean Air Act, including NAAQS, the Acid Rain Program, and CSAPR, which regulate emissions of SO2, NOx, and other pollutants.
With a capacity of 302.5 MW, Lonesome Creek Station is a medium-sized gas plant. Gas plants generally have lower emissions than coal plants and provide flexible generation to support grid stability.