Overview
Mass Inst Tech Cntrl Utilities/Cogen Plt is a 21.2 MW gas power plant in Cambridge, Massachusetts, owned by Massachusetts Institute of Technology. It provides cogenerated electricity and steam to the MIT campus.
Mass Inst Tech Cntrl Utilities/Cogen Plt is a natural gas-fired cogeneration facility located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States. With a capacity of 21.2 MW, it is a small-scale power plant that serves the Massachusetts Institute of Technology campus, providing both electricity and thermal energy. The plant is owned by MIT and is currently operational. The facility operates under the regulatory framework of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Air Act, including National Ambient Air Quality Standards and the Acid Rain Program. As a gas-fired cogeneration plant, it benefits from high efficiency and lower emissions compared to coal or oil plants. The plant's technology likely includes a combustion turbine with heat recovery steam generation, typical for cogeneration applications. This plant plays a key role in supporting MIT's energy needs, contributing to the institution's sustainability goals by providing efficient on-site power and steam. Its location in an urban area underscores the importance of reliable and clean energy for educational and research institutions. The plant's small scale and gas fuel type position it favorably in terms of environmental impact.
Environmental context
The plant's gas fuel type results in lower CO2, SOx, and NOx emissions compared to coal or oil plants. Its cogeneration design improves overall efficiency, reducing fuel consumption and associated emissions. Located in a densely populated urban area, the plant's emissions are subject to stringent local and federal air quality regulations. The small capacity minimizes its local environmental footprint.
Frequently asked questions
The plant is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, on the Massachusetts Institute of Technology campus.
It is a natural gas-fired cogeneration plant that produces both electricity and steam.
The plant has a capacity of 21.2 megawatts (MW).
The plant is owned by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
The plant operates under the U.S. Clean Air Act, including NAAQS and the Acid Rain Program, and must comply with state-level emissions standards in Massachusetts.