"There has been significant growth in the area's residential and commercial developments," Raymond Long, director of external affairs for Mirant New England, tells GolbeSt.com. "There is a need for more electricity here."

The existing Kendall Plant uses oil and natural gas to produce 64 megawatts of electricity. Mirant Kendall also produces steam service for heating, cooling and process needs for many commercial and industrial customers in the Cambridge and Boston areas.

According to Long, Mirant is putting a building on the back of the existing plant where it will put the new equipment. The equipment upgrade project will increase the overall electricity output to 234 megawatts and the reliability of steam service. Commercial operation of this new equipment is slated to begin in June 2002.