Mystic Generating Station
{{Short description|Electric generating station near Boston, Massachusetts}}
{{Infobox power station
| name = Mystic Generating Station
| name_official =
| image = File:Mystic_Station_Power_Plant.jpg
| image_caption = Mystic Generating Station from across the Mystic River
| image_alt = Mystic Generating Station from across the Mystic River
| coordinates = {{coord|42|23|29|N|71|04|01|W|region:US-MA_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}
| country = United States
| location = Everett, Massachusetts
| status = B
| construction_began =
| commissioned =
| decommissioned = June 2024
| cost =
| owner = Constellation Energy
| operator = Constellation Energy
| ps_units_operational =
| ps_units_manu_model =
| ps_units_uc =
| ps_units_planned =
| ps_units_cancelled =
| ps_units_decommissioned=
| thermal_capacity =
| ps_electrical_capacity = 1,998 MW{{cite web|title=Mystic Generating Station|url=http://www.exeloncorp.com/locations/power-plants/mystic-generating-station|website=Exeloncorp.com|publisher=Exelon|accessdate=29 March 2018}}
| ps_electrical_cap_fac =
| ps_storage_capacity =
| ps_annual_generation =
| website = [https://www.constellationenergy.com/our-company/locations/location-sites/mystic-generating-station.html Official Website]
| extra =
}}
The Mystic Generating Station was a power station in the state of Massachusetts (on the border between Everett and Boston) which, for a while, had the highest nameplate capacity of any station in the state.{{cite web|last1=SIEMINSKI|first1=ADAM|title=STATEMENT OF ADAM SIEMINSKI ADMINISTRATOR ENERGY INFORMATION ADMINISTRATION U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY Before the SUBCOMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND POWER COMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND COMMERCE U. S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES|url=http://energy.gov/sites/prod/files/2014/03/f13/3-6-14_Adam_Sieminski%20FT%20HEC%20-%20w%20Attachments.pdf|website=energy.gov|publisher=Committee on Energy and Commerce|accessdate=29 April 2015}} It was capable of burning both natural gas and petroleum, but mostly burned natural gas.
As of 2024 the plant consisted of eight separate generating units: Mystic 8 and 9 were combined cycle natural gas units with a total of four combustion turbines and two steam turbines which could produce 1414 MW total; Mystic 7 was a natural gas or petroleum unit which produced 576 MW; and Mystic Jet was a small petroleum fueled unit which produced 8.6 MW in periods of high demand. Mystic Generating Station was retired on June 1, 2024.https://www.bostonglobe.com/2024/05/31/business/mystic-river-power-plant-everett-closes/
History
File:Aerial view of Mystic Generating Station, circa 1960s.jpg
As World War II loomed, the increase in demand for electricity lead Boston Edison to plan new power stations. Mystic Station, located on the Mystic River, began operations with three coal fired units of 50 MW each (Mystic 1-3),{{cite book |last=Toner |first1=James |title=The Boston Edison Story 1886-1951 |edition=2 |location=New York, New York |publisher=The Newcomen Society in North America |year=1951 }} which went into service in 1943, 1945, and 1947, respectively.{{cite web | title=History of Boston Edison Company – FundingUniverse | website=FundingUniverse | date=1952-03-17 | url=https://www.fundinguniverse.com/company-histories/boston-edison-company-history/ | access-date=2025-06-05}}
Three additional coal fired units (Mystic 4-6) having a combined output of 468 MW were added in 1957, 1959, and 1961, respectively.{{cite web | title=Boston Edison Mystic Power Station | website=SAH ARCHIPEDIA | date=2018-07-17 | url=https://sah-archipedia.org/buildings/MA-01-EV3 | access-date=2025-06-05}} Units 1-6 were later converted to oil.{{cite web | title= Final Environmental Statement - Addition of Unit #7 to Mystic Electric Generating Station| url=https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/8a/Final_environmental_statement-_Addition_of_Unit_No._7%2C_Mystic_Electric_Generating_system%2C_Everett%2C_Mass._-_USACE-p16021coll7-15851.pdf | access-date=2025-06-05}}
Mystic 7, a dual fuel unit (natural gas or petroleum) rated at 577.6 MW and Mystic Jet, a small petroleum fueled 8.6 MW unit for black start and peaking were constructed in 1975.{{cn|date=June 2025}} Mystic 1-3 were then retired.{{cn|date=June 2025}}
In the mid 1990s, the state of Massachusetts began to deregulate the electrical market.{{cite web|last1=Bride|first1=James|title=Sorting out the cost of green energy|url=http://commonwealthmagazine.org/uncategorized/006-sorting-out-the-cost-of-green-energy/|website=Commonwealthmagazine.org|accessdate=29 April 2015}} Boston Edison, then called NSTAR, sold the Mystic Generating Station to Sithe Energies, while it retained possession of the transmission and distribution switchyards. Sithe instituted a large capital investment with the construction of Mystic 8 and 9, six natural gas units which produced a total 690.9 MW, which was completed in 2003.{{cite web | last=Directors | first=Clarion Energy Content | title=New Exelon power plant providing clean energy to Boston area | website=Power Engineering | date=2003-06-10 | url=https://www.power-eng.com/coal/plant-decommissioning/new-exelon-power-plant-providing-clean-energy-to-boston-area/ | access-date=2025-06-05}} Units 4-6 were subsequently retired.
Sithe was acquired by Exelon in late 2003{{cite web|title=Power Plant of the Week - Mystic Generating Station|url=http://energytariffexperts.com/blog/2013/4/28/power-plant-of-the-week-mystic-generating-station|website=Energytariffexperts.com|accessdate=29 April 2015}} who ran into financial difficulties, which resulted in BNP Paribas taking control of the station. BNP Paribas sold the station soon after its acquisition to Boston Generating, who subsequently declared Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2010 and was sold to Constellation Energy.{{cite web|last1=Jeffrey|first1=Donald|last2=McLaughlin|first2=David|title=Boston Generating Sale to Constellation Moves Ahead|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2010-10-09/boston-generating-sale-to-constellation-advances-after-bankruptcy-ruling|website=Bloomberg.com|accessdate=29 April 2015}} Constellation Energy and Exelon merged in March 2012, returning ownership to Exelon.{{cite web|last1=Cho|first1=Hanah|title=Maryland PSC approves Constellation sale to Exelon|url=http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bs-bz-ceg-merger-decision-20120217-story.html#page=1|website=Baltimoresun.com|accessdate=29 April 2015}}{{cite web|title=Stock Watch: Exelon Corporation (NYSE:EXC)|url=http://www.themarketsdaily.com/stock-watch-exelon-corporation-nyseexc-2/13112/|website=themarketsdaily.com|accessdate=29 April 2015}} Constellation owned and operated the station following spin-off from Exelon in 2022.{{cite web | title=Everett power plant changes name, owner, again | website=BostonGlobe.com | date=2022-02-02 | url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/02/02/business/everett-power-plant-changes-name-owner-again/ | access-date=2025-06-05}}
The Toxics Action Center had targeted the Mystic Generating Station as one of the five largest polluting power stations in the state.{{cite web|last1=Ailworth|first1=Erin|title=The end of the coal era in Massachusetts|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2014/06/17/the-end-coal-era-massachusetts/QMqSUxb9wPe8WNL1Ys0goM/story.html|website=Bostonglobe.com|publisher=The Boston Globe|accessdate=29 April 2015}} Other groups also became concerned that the plant relied too heavily on Distrigas Liquefied Natural Gas from Yemen which has been experiencing political unrest.{{cite web|last1=Ailworth|first1=Erin|title=Unrest in Yemen may result in local LNG shortage|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2012/05/04/electric-power-plants-threatened-attacks-gas-pipelines-yemen/48P2O2KqNm9sEa2P6dr6lM/story.html|website=bostonglobe.com|publisher=The Boston Globe|accessdate=29 April 2015}}
Mystic Unit 7 and Mystic Jet were shut down May 31, 2021.{{cite web | title=Statement regarding the retirement of Mystic Generating Station in 2024 | website=exeloncorp.com | date=2024-05-31 | url=https://www.exeloncorp.com/newsroom/statement-regarding-the-retirement-of-mystic-generating-station-in-2024 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024033052/https://www.exeloncorp.com/newsroom/statement-regarding-the-retirement-of-mystic-generating-station-in-2024 | archive-date=2020-10-24 | url-status=dead | access-date=2025-06-05}}
Changes in the wholesale energy markets left Mystic uneconomical to operate under most conditions, leading Exelon to apply to close Mystic from 2022. ISO New England ordered units 8 and 9 to remain operational until the transmission system could be upgraded under a FERC Order 1000 competitive solicitation. Once an upgrade project was selected ISO-NE announced that Mystic Station would be allowed to fully retire on June 1, 2024.{{cite web|url=http://isonewswire.com/updates/2020/7/28/iso-ne-posts-update-on-mystic-generating-station.html|author=ISO New England|date=July 28, 2020|accessdate=2020-09-21|title=ISO-NE Posts Update on Mystic Generating Station}} Mystic Generating Station's peaking capabilities were replaced by transmission grid enhancements built on existing National Grid and Eversource properties, a solution known as "Ready Path".{{cite web | title=Greater Boston Ready Path Solutions | website=greaterbostonreadypath.com | date=2020-08-05 | url=https://www.greaterbostonreadypath.com/about-the-ready-path/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024121037/https://www.greaterbostonreadypath.com/about-the-ready-path/ | archive-date=2020-10-24 | url-status=dead | access-date=2025-06-05}}
In March 2023, Wynn Resorts acquired 45 acres of the site for $25,000,000{{Cite web |last=Chesto |first=Jon |date=March 15, 2023 |title=Wynn Resorts buys Everett power plant site. Is a Revs stadium on the Mystic next? |url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2023/03/15/business/wynn-resorts-buys-everett-power-plant-site-is-revs-stadium-mystic-next/ |access-date=2023-03-16 |website=BostonGlobe.com |language=en-US}}, planning to build a standalone sportsbook, poker room, nightclub and possibly a hotel tower on the property.{{cite web | last=O'Connor | first=Devin | title=Wynn Resorts Acquiring Power Plant Next to Encore Boston Harbor | website=Casino.org | date=2023-03-16 | url=https://www.casino.org/news/wynn-resorts-acquiring-power-plant-next-encore-boston-harbor/ | access-date=2025-06-05}}
Mystic Generating Station was shut down on June 1, 2024.