A method, comprising the steps of: compressing ambient air into a compressed ambient gas flow with at least one main air compressor; delivering at least a first portion of the compressed ambient gas flow, with a first compressed ambient gas flow rate, to a turbine combustor that is fluidly connected to the at least one main air compressor; delivering a fuel stream, having a first fuel stream flow rate, to the turbine combustor for mixing with the at least a first portion of the compressed ambient gas flow and with at least a first portion of an exhaust gas flow to form a combustible mixture; burning the combustible mixture with substantially stoichiometric combustion in the turbine combustor, thereby forming the exhaust gas flow and driving a turbine connected to a turbine compressor via a turbine shaft and operating the power plant at a first load; recirculating at least a first portion of the exhaust gas flow from the turbine to the turbine compressor using a recirculation loop; delivering at least a second portion of the exhaust gas flow to an exhaust path; characterized by: reducing the fuel stream flow rate to a second fuel stream flow rate that is less than the first fuel stream flow rate and reducing the compressed ambient gas flow rate to a second compressed ambient gas flow rate that is less than the first compressed ambient gas flow rate, wherein substantially stoichiometric combustion is maintained and the power plant is operated at a second load that is lower than the first load; and reducing the fuel stream flow rate to a third fuel stream flow rate that is less than the second fuel stream flow rate, wherein lean combustion is achieved and the power plant is operated at a third load that is lower than the second load. compressing ambient air into a compressed ambient gas flow with at least one main air compressor; delivering at least a first portion of the compressed ambient gas flow, with a first compressed ambient gas flow rate, to a turbine combustor that is fluidly connected to the at least one main air compressor; delivering a fuel stream, having a first fuel stream flow rate, to the turbine combustor for mixing with the at least a first portion of the compressed ambient gas flow and with at least a first portion of an exhaust gas flow to form a combustible mixture; burning the combustible mixture with substantially stoichiometric combustion in the turbine combustor, thereby forming the exhaust gas flow and driving a turbine connected to a turbine compressor via a turbine shaft and operating the power plant at a first load; recirculating at least a first portion of the exhaust gas flow from the turbine to the turbine compressor using a recirculation loop; delivering at least a second portion of the exhaust gas flow to an exhaust path; characterized by: reducing the fuel stream flow rate to a second fuel stream flow rate that is less than the first fuel stream flow rate and reducing the compressed ambient gas flow rate to a second compressed ambient gas flow rate that is less than the first compressed ambient gas flow rate, wherein substantially stoichiometric combustion is maintained and the power plant is operated at a second load that is lower than the first load; and reducing the fuel stream flow rate to a third fuel stream flow rate that is less than the second fuel stream flow rate, wherein lean combustion is achieved and the power plant is operated at a third load that is lower than the second load. reducing the fuel stream flow rate to a second fuel stream flow rate that is less than the first fuel stream flow rate and reducing the compressed ambient gas flow rate to a second compressed ambient gas flow rate that is less than the first compressed ambient gas flow rate, wherein substantially stoichiometric combustion is maintained and the power plant is operated at a second load that is lower than the first load; and reducing the fuel stream flow rate to a third fuel stream flow rate that is less than the second fuel stream flow rate, wherein lean combustion is achieved and the power plant is operated at a third load that is lower than the second load.