Lackawanna Clean Energy (LCE) is a state-of-the-art clean energy plant that will be built in Lackawanna, New York to turn petroleum coke into clean natural gas. Petroleum coke is the residual solid, carbon-rich material left over after all the useful liquid products are removed from crude oil. It can be used in place of coal, but compared to coal it is generally higher in energy. LCE will increase proven reserves of natural gas in New York State by 50% thus stabilizing supply in the volatile natural gas market.


Lackawanna Clean Energy Facility Aerial View, artist rendition

The LCE plant will be built on a portion of the former Bethlehem Steel Works in Lackawanna, New York. The plant's development and construction costs are approximately $1.5 billion. The site has good access to existing rail service and lake shipping facilities.

The LCE plant will be brought on line during 2012. During the roughly 2 year period of construction, the project will employ approximately 1,500 workers. Once operational, the LCE plant will have a direct payroll of approximately 200 employees and contractors.

Off-site improvements include a pipeline to connect LCE to an established natural gas distribution network, improvements to the Gateway Metroport Ship Canal Dock and unloading facilities, and improvements to water and electrical connections.

The LCE plant will use best available control technologies (BACT) to control emissions of criteria and hazardous air pollutants below all major source category thresholds pursuant to the Clean Air Act. The plant will be designed such that sulfur dioxide (SO₂), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and carbon monoxide (CO) emissions from the LCE plant will each be much less than applicable New York State limits.

LCE byproducts include elemental sulfur for use in the fertilizer industry and non-hazardous, vitreous slag for reuse as a construction material. Solid wastes would include small amounts of salts, activated carbon, and spent catalysts.

The LCE plant has been designed to minimize water usage, and the LCE plant water will be supplied via the existing on-site water system. The process water will be treated with a state-of-the-art Zero Liquid Discharge system to further reduce water usage.