The Stony Brook Power Plant is a
petroleum-fired power station located in
Ludlow, MA
Ludlow is a New England town in Hampden County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 21,002 as of the 2020 census, and it is considered part of the Springfield Metropolitan Statistical Area. Located just northeast of Springfield a ...
on a 350-acre site.
It is owned by a number of parties, but 90.75%
of it is owned by the
Massachusetts Municipal Wholesale Electric Company (MMWEC).
The plant consists of two generating units. The Stony Brook Intermediate Unit generates 354 MW of electricity with its three combined-cycle turbines that can burn either
petroleum
Petroleum, also known as crude oil or simply oil, is a naturally occurring, yellowish-black liquid chemical mixture found in geological formations, consisting mainly of hydrocarbons. The term ''petroleum'' refers both to naturally occurring un ...
or
natural gas
Natural gas (also fossil gas, methane gas, and gas) is a naturally occurring compound of gaseous hydrocarbons, primarily methane (95%), small amounts of higher alkanes, and traces of carbon dioxide and nitrogen, hydrogen sulfide and helium ...
. The Stony Brook Peaking Unit is a 172 MW
peaking unit which runs during periods on high demand using petroleum.
These units provide electricity to 24 municipalities in Massachusetts.
History
Since 1976, the plant has been financed with a number of bonds that have granted partial ownership to the
Green Mountain Power Corporation and the town of
Lyndonville, Vermont
Lyndonville is a Village (Vermont), village in the New England town, town of Lyndon, Vermont, Lyndon, in Caledonia County, Vermont, Caledonia County, Vermont, United States. Lyndonville's population was 1,136 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 ...
.
The first unit was constructed in 1981 with the second unit being constructed the following year in 1982.
Originally the units were designed with the intention of running solely on petroleum, but were later converted to dual-fuel in 1983 when natural gas became available.
In 2006, MMWEC began considering the construction of a third combined-cycle natural gas 280 MW unit. It received approval from the Ludlow Board of Selectmen the same year with the expected date of completion in mid-2010. The unit has not yet been completed, as MMWEC has cited a need for additional funding before the project is can be completed. The town does not plan to provide this funding.
Additionally, recent maintenance has extended the lifespan of the plant through 2030.
References
{{reflist
Oil-fired power stations in Massachusetts
Natural gas-fired power stations in Massachusetts