Overview
O W Sommers is a 892 MW gas power plant in San Antonio, Texas, operated by the City of San Antonio. It provides electricity to the local grid under US EPA regulatory frameworks.
O W Sommers is a gas-fired power plant located in San Antonio, Texas, United States. With a capacity of 892 MW, it operates as a medium-to-large-scale facility within the US power generation sector. The plant is owned and operated by the City of San Antonio, serving the local community and regional grid. The plant uses natural gas as its primary fuel, a cleaner-burning fossil fuel compared to coal. It operates under the regulatory oversight 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 sulfur dioxide (SO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and other pollutants, ensuring compliance with environmental standards. As a gas-fired facility, O W Sommers contributes to the region's energy mix with lower carbon intensity relative to coal plants. Its location in San Antonio supports the city's growing energy demand while adhering to modern emission control technologies. The plant plays a key role in the local power infrastructure, providing reliable electricity to residential, commercial, and industrial users.
Environmental context
The plant's gas-fired technology results in lower CO2, SOx, and NOx emissions compared to coal-fired plants, aligning with US EPA regulations under the Clean Air Act. Its location in San Antonio, a populated urban area, necessitates careful management of local air quality impacts. The facility's capacity of 892 MW places it in a moderate scale band, with environmental performance influenced by its age and technology (likely combined cycle or simple cycle gas turbine).
Frequently asked questions
O W Sommers is located in San Antonio, Texas, United States, at coordinates 29.3081° N, -98.3242° W.
O W Sommers has a capacity of 892 megawatts (MW), making it a medium-to-large-scale gas power plant.
O W Sommers is owned and operated by the City of San Antonio, Texas.
As a US gas power plant, O W Sommers operates under the Clean Air Act, including NAAQS, the Acid Rain Program, and CSAPR, which regulate SO2, NOx, and other emissions.
O W Sommers uses natural gas as its primary fuel, which produces lower CO2 and pollutant emissions compared to coal.