Silas Ray — United States of America
Gas power plant in Texas, United States of America. Approximate location 25.9131, -97.5214.
GasTexasUnited States of AmericaCCGT · HRSGCO₂ measured
Silas Ray is a 136 MW gas power station in Texas, United States of America. It is operated by Brownsville Public Utilities Board. Based on reported annual generation of 66 GWh, it can supply roughly 19k homes. It ranks #2387 of 10,884 United States of America power plants by installed capacity. Commissioned in 1993, it is around 33 years old — long-established. Its annual emissions of 83,712 t CO₂/yr (US EPA GHGRP) are equivalent to about 20k cars driven for a year. In context, gas supplies about 40.0% of United States of America's electricity; the national grid averages 384 gCO₂/kWh (43.0% low-carbon) (2025).
Plant data: WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0), id USA0003559.
Data status
Known data
Calculated from dataset
Known, modelled and calculated values are kept separate. Missing fields are shown as unavailable.
Data provenance
Source of the capacity and fuel values:
capacity: GEM · 2026 · L100000401753; fuel: WRI GPPD
In context: how this plant compares
At 136 MW, Silas Ray is well above the median gas plant in United States of America (121.2 MW). Technically it is described as CCGT; combined-cycle with a heat-recovery steam generator (HRSG). Gas plants burn natural gas either in open-cycle turbines for fast peaking, or in combined-cycle units that recover exhaust heat in an HRSG to reach roughly 55–62% efficiency — the cleanest-burning fossil option.
Capacity comparison computed from the WRI Global Power Plant Database; fuel-type context is general engineering background.
83,712 t CO₂/yr — in everyday terms
This facility's annual emissions are roughly equivalent to:
Equivalencies via US EPA Greenhouse Gas Equivalencies; emissions per US EPA GHGRP (measured for US EPA/EU ETS, modelled for Climate TRACE).
Key facts
- Load factor
- 6%, from 66 GWh of reported generation; the median for 1622 gas plants in United States of America that report generation is 26%
- Share of United States of America gas capacity
- less than 0.1% of 789,950 MW across 2,165 plants in this dataset
- Age among peers
- 643 of 1,973 dated gas plants in United States of America are older
Calculated from the capacity and generation records in this dataset (WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0)).
Reported generation trend
Annual generation (GWh), WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0).
Owner
Operated by Brownsville Public Utilities Board.
Local climate & thermal context
This gas plant burns natural gas in a turbine — often in a combined-cycle setup — to generate electricity. It sits in a hot semi-arid steppe climate (Köppen BSh) — Northern Hemisphere, latitude 25.9°N — which shapes how much energy it can produce and how its output varies through the year.
Monthly mean temperature
Heating degree-days here run 94% below the median power plant in this dataset — a proxy for how much extra energy heated equipment must replace through its surfaces in winter.
Climate heat-demand index: 16/100 — this site sits in the bottom third of the power plants we cover by heating degree-days.
A gas turbine here also runs ~6% below its ISO (15°C) rating at this annual mean (typical CCGT curve, estimate).
Climate normals: WorldClim 2.1 (1970–2000 monthly normals, 10 arc-min, CC BY 4.0); zone: Köppen-Geiger world climate classification (Kottek et al. 2006, 0.5° grid). Degree-days & heat-demand index computed by PowerAtlas — a modelled heat-demand proxy, not a measured site figure.
Site climate & environmental severity
This site sits in an aggressive, high-corrosion environment (estimated ISO 9223 class C5 — Very high), with marine salt corrosion the leading environmental stress.
Indicative estimate via the ISO 9223:2012 informative method (atmospheric corrosivity from temperature, time-of-wetness and airborne salinity), using WorldClim climate normals, the Köppen-Geiger class and coast distance. Indicative, not a measured corrosion rate.
How it compares & nearby plants
The #1038 largest gas power plant of 2165 in United States of America by capacity.
United States of America has 2165 gas power plants in this dataset, together about 789,950 MW of capacity.
Nearby power plants
- Port Of Brownsville Energy Complex · Gas · 192 MW · Texas
- San Roman Wind I LLC · Wind · 95.3 MW · Texas
- Río Bravo II (Anáhuac) · Gas · 495 MW · Tamaulipas
- Río Bravo III · Gas · 495 MW · Tamaulipas
- Cameron Wind 1 LLC · Wind · 165 MW · Texas
- SpaceX power station · Gas · 250 MW · Texas
Location
Coordinates 25.9131, -97.5214 from WRI Global Power Plant Database (CC BY 4.0). View on OpenStreetMap.
Frequently asked questions
What type of power plant is Silas Ray?
Silas Ray is a 136 MW gas power plant in Texas, United States of America, commissioned in 1993.
How much electricity does Silas Ray generate?
Silas Ray generates about 66 GWh of electricity per year.
Who operates Silas Ray?
Silas Ray is operated by Brownsville Public Utilities Board.
How much CO₂ does Silas Ray emit?
Silas Ray has measured emissions of about 83,712 tonnes of CO₂ per year (US EPA GHGRP).