Natural Gas-Fired Power Plants
The deadline for submitting comments on the Renovo Power Plant has been extended to December 7 at 5PM. Click here to comment against this large, new source of air pollution.
Renovo Energy Center, LLC is applying for an air permit to construct a natural gas-fired power plant in Renovo Borough just north of Erie Avenue. Air pollutants that would be emitted from this facility are known to be harmful to human health and the environment. If built, the power plant would emit annually over 200 tons of particulate matter, over 300 tons of nitrogen oxides and over 100 tons of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). NOx and VOCs react to form ground-level ozone (or smog), which can cause and aggravate lung diseases and issues. VOCs that would be emitted by the plant include tons of formaldehyde, which is classified as a probable human carcinogen.
Urge the DEP to deny Renovo Energy’s air permit.
In 2017, the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) granted Robinson Power in Robinson, PA an air quality permit for its proposed natural gas power plant. In 2019, Robinson Power submitted an application for a modification that would significantly increase emissions of many pollutants that can affect public health and exacerbate climate change. Compared to the original 2017 proposal, the 2020 proposal involves the construction of higher capacity combustion units. Robinson Power is also asking DEP to permit it a higher number of hours for startup and shutdown, which will likely increase emissions. Click here to oppose this permit.
Natural gas-fired power plants are large industrial facilities that generate electricity from burning natural gas. There is a considerable range in generating capacity of natural gas plants in Pennsylvania. Some smaller plants produce 22 MW of electricity while some larger facilities generate 1,500 MW of electricity. The larger power plants are enormous projects that are permitted to emit many tons of harmful air pollutants each year. Power plants burn natural gas to produce electricity, which results in emissions of NOx, PM, hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), and greenhouse gases (GHGs), among others. Since 2011, companies have proposed nearly 50 gas-fired power plants in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania generates the third-highest amount of electricity in the country, exceeding the amount of electricity Pennsylvanians consumes. PA supplies a significant amount of this excess electricity to the Mid-Atlantic region. Pennsylvania exports more electricity than any other state in the United States.
Between 2010 and 2017, the electricity generating sector consumed an increasing amount of natural gas and is now the largest consumer, using about half of all natural gas in the state. According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, natural gas made up 15% of Pennsylvania’s electricity generation in 2010, while coal provided about half. In 2017, natural gas generated close to a third of electricity generation, while coal provided only a quarter.
In July 2020, 23,619 thousand total MegaWatt Hours (MWhs) of electricity were produced in Pennsylvania with 13,580 thousand MWhs coming from natural gas, 57.5 %.
Gas power plants typically feed electricity directly into the regional electric grid called PJM, which provides electricity to 51 million residents in 13 states and the District of Columbia.
Please contact Matt Walker at mwalker@cleanair.org or 215-567-4004 x121
Contact Russell Zerbo at 215-567-4004 x130 or rzerbo@cleanair.org
