The Carson Plant, located in Carson, California, within Los Angeles County, is an industrial power generation facility. It contributes to the regional energy supply by providing resources that support local industrial operations and the broader electrical grid.
Overview and Purpose
The Carson Plant, officially known as the Watson Cogeneration Project, operates as a combined-cycle natural gas-fired cogeneration facility. Positioned on 21.7 acres adjacent to the Tesoro Carson Refinery in Carson, it serves a dual purpose within Southern California’s energy infrastructure. The plant generates electricity for the regional power grid, supplying Southern California Edison (SCE) Company, and simultaneously produces process steam for the neighboring refinery.
Operational Aspects
The plant employs advanced combined-cycle technology to convert natural gas into energy. This process uses four parallel combustion gas turbine generators and heat recovery steam generator trains. Heat from the gas turbines produces steam, which drives two parallel steam turbine-driven power generators. This system generates 385 megawatts of electricity.
A portion of the natural gas fuel is a byproduct from adjacent refining operations. Electricity is transmitted to the Southern California Edison system via a high-voltage line.
Environmental and Regulatory Context
The Carson Plant operates under a stringent environmental and regulatory framework. Its operations, part of the larger refinery complex, contribute to an emissions profile including greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide. In 2023, the Phillips 66 Los Angeles Refinery – Carson Plant reported total emissions of 938,379 metric tons of CO2 equivalent, primarily from stationary combustion, hydrogen production, and petroleum refining.
The facility is subject to oversight from environmental agencies, including the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD), the California Air Resources Board (CARB), and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Compliance requires ongoing monitoring and reporting of air pollutants and greenhouse gas emissions. Efforts to mitigate environmental impact include the use of fuel gas byproducts from refining, which enhances efficiency. Historically, there have been proposals for cleaner energy transitions, such as the “Carson Hydrogen Power project” aimed at converting petroleum coke into hydrogen fuel with carbon capture. However, this specific hydrogen power project was abandoned by 2009 due to business considerations.
History and Development
The Watson Cogeneration Project received certification from the California Energy Commission on September 17, 1986. Commercial operations commenced on April 1, 1988. The facility was constructed adjacent to the Tesoro Carson Refinery, which dates back to 1922. Over its history, the plant has undergone assessments and proposals for expansion, such as a 2012 application to add a fifth generating train. This proposed expansion was terminated in 2015 at the owner’s request.