AECI continues to improve air quality

Associated Electric Cooperative has a strong history of fulfilling its environmental commitments while continuing to meet members’ needs for an economical, reliable power supply. The cooperative has invested more than $1 billion since 1994 to improve air quality, reducing its sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides emissions rates by 90 percent systemwide.

This chart shows the results of Associated Electric Cooperative's investments to improve air quality. Annual emissions rates of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are 90 percent lower in 2009 compared with 1994 for New Madrid and Thomas Hill coal units.

The chart also shows 2015 emissions requirements of the Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR) that will require a projected $1.3 billion investment in scrubbers to further reduce mercury and sulfur dioxide emissions -- further increasing members' costs.