Overview
Lost Hills Cogeneration Plant is a 10.5 MW gas-fired power facility in California, USA, owned by AERA Energy LLC. It operates as a cogeneration unit, providing both electricity and thermal energy.
The Lost Hills Cogeneration Plant is a natural gas-fired power generation facility located in Lost Hills, California, United States. With a capacity of 10.5 MW, it is a small-scale plant within the US power generation sector, owned and operated by AERA Energy LLC. The plant is currently operational and serves the local energy needs. As a gas-fired cogeneration plant, it utilizes natural gas to produce electricity and captures waste heat for industrial or heating purposes, improving overall efficiency. The facility operates under the regulatory framework of the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), including the Clean Air Act (CAA) and associated programs such as the National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and the Acid Rain Program. These regulations govern emissions of SOx, NOx, and other pollutants. The Lost Hills Cogeneration Plant plays a role in providing reliable power to the region, with its cogeneration design enhancing energy efficiency. Its location in California, a state with stringent environmental standards, means it must comply with state-level air quality regulations as well. The plant's small capacity and gas-fired technology contribute to a relatively lower environmental footprint compared to larger coal-fired facilities.
Environmental context
The plant's gas-fired cogeneration technology reduces overall emissions by utilizing waste heat, lowering CO2 and NOx output per unit of energy compared to separate heat and power generation. Located in a rural area of California, the facility's emissions are subject to state and federal air quality standards, including the EPA's NAAQS. The small capacity (10.5 MW) limits its local environmental impact, though natural gas extraction and transport have upstream effects.
Frequently asked questions
The Lost Hills Cogeneration Plant is located in Lost Hills, California, United States, at coordinates 35.666100, -119.766900.
The Lost Hills Cogeneration Plant has a capacity of 10.5 megawatts (MW), making it a small-scale gas-fired power plant.
The Lost Hills Cogeneration Plant is owned by AERA Energy LLC, an energy company operating in California.
Gas-fired power plants in the US must comply with the Clean Air Act (CAA), including National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS), the Acid Rain Program, and the Cross-State Air Pollution Rule (CSAPR). State-level regulations may also apply.
Cogeneration, or combined heat and power (CHP), produces electricity and captures waste heat for industrial or heating use. This increases overall efficiency, reduces fuel consumption, and lowers greenhouse gas emissions compared to separate generation.