Abstract: A low NO.sub.x combustion turbine combustor which utilizes an electric are plasma torch to heat natural gas or another fuel to a sufficiently high temperature to create a plasma which is injected into a combustor causing the auto-ignition and sustained combustion of the lean fuel/air mixture within the combustor. The plasma is injected through a pilot flame nozzle into a combustion turbine combustor basket. The temperature and the volume of the injected plasma-heated fuel is precisely controlled to light-off the lean mixture in the combustor basket while minimizing the NO.sub.x production through elimination of the air required by the pilot flame of conventional turbine combustors.