Associated continues to improve its environmental performance

AECI is using the best available control technology, as defined by the Environmental Protection Agency, on its new gas plant – making it one of the cleanest and most efficient gas plants in the nation.

What equipment will be used to reduce emissions?

The efficiency of the new power plant will result in lower emissions rates. Emissions of sulfur dioxide, volatile organic compounds and particulate matter are minimized by the choice of fuel, which is natural gas, and the high combustion efficiency inherent in a modern combustion turbine.  AECI also will use various equipment and methods to remove nitrogen oxides from the flue gas before it exits the stack. The generating unit will be equipped with:

• selective catalytic reduction equipment and a dry combustion system to minimize emissions of nitrogen oxides; and
• a  continuous emissions monitoring system that measures and records the constituents of the flue gas to ensure they meet requirements of air permits and ensure accurate operation of the environmental equipment.

What has the electric utility industry done to reduce emissions?

Nationally, America's air quality is better now than it has been in decades. Emissions of pollutants regulated by federal clean air laws established to protect human health are down 60 percent since 1970, according to the federal Environmental Protection Agency. Utilities have invested more than $50 billion in new technologies to improve the environmental performance of their plants.

What kind of emissions reductions has AECI achieved?

Since 1994, AECI has reduced its annual sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions rate by 90 percent, and its systemwide nitrogen oxides (NOx) emissions rate will be reduced 90 percent in 2009 with the operation of additional environmental controls that were completed in December 2008.

AECI accomplished these reductions by converting its coal units to low-sulfur coal, closing its high-sulfur Missouri coal mine and installing environmental controls at a cost of more than $1 billion.

In addition to improving air quality and partnering in Missouri's first utility-scale wind farms, AECI implemented its "Take Control & Save" energy efficiency program in 2008 systemwide to build upon the longtime work of member cooperatives to increase the efficient use of electricity.

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