World Power Plants

Ranked #1732 among the 10,047 power generation facilities in the United States, Silas Ray plays a modest yet vital role in the American energy landscape. With a capacity of 143.8 MW, this gas-fired facility contributes a mere 0.01% to the nation's total capacity of 1,386,385 MW. Despite its small share, Silas Ray is strategically located in Brownsville, Texas, where it forms part of a diverse energy cluster. The facility, commissioned in 1993 and operated by the Brownsville Public Utilities Board, is notable for utilizing both natural gas and oil, which adds flexibility in fuel sourcing. The surrounding area features significant energy infrastructure with nearby plants such as the Río Bravo III and Río Bravo II (Anáhuac), both of which boast capacities of 495 MW and also utilize gas as their primary fuel. In contrast, the Los Vientos Wind 1A and 1B plants, with capacities of 200 MW and 201.6 MW respectively, highlight the growing importance of renewable energy sources in the region. Silas Ray's capacity is notably lower than the average for Texas gas plants, indicating a localized energy demand that is met by larger facilities in its vicinity. This gas plant, while not leading in capacity or ranking, is essential for maintaining grid reliability in a region that is increasingly dependent on both gas and renewable energy. The U.S. energy profile is dominated by gas, which constitutes a significant majority of the total capacity, making Silas Ray's contribution more relevant as the country shifts towards cleaner energy sources. As the energy landscape evolves, facilities like Silas Ray will need to adapt to the challenges of integrating more renewables and improving efficiency. This transition will not only impact local energy economics but also contribute to broader national efforts to reduce emissions and enhance energy security.

Capacity
143.8 MW
Commissioning Year
1993

33 years old

Owner
Brownsville Public Utilities Board
Location
25.9131°, -97.5214°

United States of America, North America

Context & rankings
  • 1,783. largest of 10,098 plants in United States of America
  • #8,638 worldwide by installed capacity
  • #2,944 of 5,146 Natural Gas plants worldwide
  • 0.01% of the installed capacity of United States of America
Age & fleet comparison

33 years in operation

Natural Gas fleet average: 26.9 years

Operator portfolio

Brownsville Public Utilities Board operates 1 plants totalling 144 MW

Regional density

17 plants within 100 km, 5,739 MW combined

Nearest plant: San Roman Wind I LLC (27.7 km)

Location

Coordinates:: 25.913100, -97.521400
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Carbon Footprint490 g CO₂/kWh
Annual CO₂
277.8 Kt
567 GWh/year × 490 g/kWh
Cumulative CO₂
9.17 Mt
Over 33 years of operation
Past Retirement
2023
3 years past expected retirement
Annual emissions equivalent to
60.4K
cars per year
37.0K
homes per year
12.6M
trees to offset

Estimates based on Gas emission factor (490 g CO₂/kWh) and capacity factor (45%). Actual emissions may vary based on operating conditions, efficiency, and fuel quality.

Technical Details

Primary Fuel Type
Gas
Energy Source
Non-Renewable
Country
United States of America
Continent
North America
Data Source
Global Power Plant Database

United States of AmericaEnergy Profile

10,098
Total Plants
1420.7 GW
Total Capacity
GasCoalNuclearWind
Top Fuels

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