Portland Generating Station
| Portland Generating Station | |
|---|---|
 The station in 2026 | |
 | |
| Country | United States |
| Location | Upper Mount Bethel Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, near Portland, Pennsylvania |
| Coordinates | 40°54′37″N 75°04′46″W / 40.910205°N 75.079398°W |
| Status | Operational |
| Commission date | 1958 |
| Owners | Portland Power, LLC |
| Thermal power station | |
| Primary fuel | No. 2 fuel oil |
| Secondary fuel | Natural gas |
| Turbine technology | Simple-cycle combustion turbine |
| Power generation | |
| Units operational | 1 × 18 MW 1 × 20 MW 1 × 156 MW |
| Units decommissioned | 1 × 172 MW (158 MW net) 1 × 253 MW (243 MW net) |
| Nameplate capacity | 194 MW |
The Portland Generating Station is a natural gas and fuel oil peaking power station and former coal-fired power station in Upper Mount Bethel Township, Northampton County, Pennsylvania, near Portland, Pennsylvania. It is located along the Delaware River, about 1 mi (1.6 km) south of the borough.[1]
Three simple-cycle combustion turbines remain in service, with a combined nameplate capacity of 194 megawatts.[2] The station's two former coal-fired units had a combined net capacity of 401 MW.[3]
History
[edit]The first coal-fired unit entered service in 1958 and the second in 1962. Unit 1 was rated at 172 MW gross and 158 MW net, while Unit 2 was rated at 253 MW gross and 243 MW net.[4]
In 2011, the United States Environmental Protection Agency granted a petition filed by New Jersey seeking limits on sulfur dioxide emissions from the plant. It was the first single-source petition granted by the agency.[5]
A 2013 settlement with New Jersey and Connecticut required the owners to stop burning coal in Units 1 and 2 by June 1, 2014, except when needed to maintain the reliability of the electrical grid.[3] Coal firing ended in 2014, while the combustion turbines remained in service.[1][6]
Demolition of the former coal-handling facilities began in 2022.[7]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 Docket No. D-1993-060-2: GenOn REMA, LLC—Portland Generating Station—Surface Water Withdrawal and Consumptive Use (PDF) (Report). Delaware River Basin Commission. March 13, 2019. Retrieved July 25, 2026.
- ↑ "Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory, June 2026" (XLSX). U.S. Energy Information Administration. July 23, 2026. Operating tab, plant 3113. Retrieved July 25, 2026.
- 1 2 "Connecticut, New Jersey Settle Clean Air Lawsuit With Owners of Coal-Burning Generating Plant" (Press release). Office of the Connecticut Attorney General. May 15, 2013. Retrieved July 25, 2026.
- ↑ Order Denying Petition for Objection to Permit (PDF) (Report). United States Environmental Protection Agency. June 20, 2007. p. 3. Retrieved July 25, 2026.
- ↑ "EPA Grants Clean Air Act Petition to Improve Air Quality in New Jersey" (Press release). United States Environmental Protection Agency. October 31, 2011. Retrieved July 25, 2026.
- ↑ Zhorov, Irina (December 28, 2017). "Pa. coal power plant closing leads to healthier babies downwind". WHYY. Retrieved July 25, 2026.
- ↑ Wescoe, Stacy (August 17, 2022). "Developer begins coal power plant demolition at future commerce park". Lehigh Valley Business. Retrieved July 25, 2026.