From Coal to Gold: Proving the Case for Reconversion of Coal Plants in the United States

The project tackled a pressing challenge at the intersection of decarbonization, energy reliability, and the inclusive transition of retiring gas power plants. In partnership with European consultancy Roland Berger, the Capstone team developed cutting-edge reconversion solutions for the recently retired gas plant in Everett, Massachusetts, offering a scalable blueprint for similar facilities nationwide. 

While gas plants contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, they remain critical assets to grid stability–particularly amid surging demand from data center buildouts. Recognizing this complexity, the team proposed two viable reconversion pathways: transforming the site into (i) a renewable energy hub supporting grid decarbonization and maximizing energy output, and (ii) a clean energy-industrial hybrid facility that fosters local economic revitalization. Grounded in financial modeling, policy analysis, stakeholder mapping, and topographical feasibility studies, the project produced two final deliverables: (i) a detailed PowerPoint report assessing 15 reconversion options, outlining the two optimal scenarios, and synthesizing the evolving policy landscape related to gas plant retirement, and (ii) accompanying Excel models evaluating the economic viability of reconversion options using the Levelized Costs of Energy (LCOE) and Storage (LCOS) measures. 

By aligning environmental sustainability with political and economic opportunity, this project addressed a critical sustainability challenge in the power sector. It advanced an inclusive energy transition that considers the needs of communities, policy objectives, and cross-sectoral trends, providing actionable, cross-disciplinary insights to inform future gas plant transitions across the United States and beyond.