Project Number:

878

Vermont Gasification Project

SERVICE:

Permitting Strategy for Alternate Fuels

DESCRIPTION:

The McNeil Generating Station in Burlington, Vermont, operated by Burlington Electric Company, is one of the world's largest wood-fired steam-electric power plants, generating 50 MW of electricity. Burlington Electric modified the Station by adding natural gas as an alternate fuel. Tech Environmental prepared an Air Pollution Control Permit Application to allow this transition.

The permit application included an emission control technology evaluation of the Most Stringent Emission Rate (MSER), and a dispersion modeling analysis demonstrating compliance with the Vermont and National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Burlington Electric Company further modified the McNeil Station by adding a Biomass (wood) Gasification Facility with the product gas being fired in the McNeil boiler. Tech Environmental assisted in developing a strategy for operation of the gasifier without increasing emissions from the McNeil Station. Based on this permitting strategy, Tech Environmental prepared an Air Pollution Control Permit Application for the Biomass Gasification Facility and an Air Permit Amendment Application for the McNeil Station.

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Key Points

  • A wood-fired steam-electric power plant wanted to add natural gas as an alternate fuel, which required air permitting.
  • Tech Environmental prepared a comprehensive permit application addressing all aspects of the transition.