Page 11 - ES&G report 2021 final
P. 11

Associated also has gained “Low Emitting Gen-
            erating Unit” status on some of its coal units,          AECI reduces emissions
 EnvironmentalAir  meaning they emit less than 50% of the MATS         4.0
            limit on particulate matter.
                                                                             3.72
            Using a boiler additive, to help reduce mercury
            emissions. Mercury emissions dropped nearly                3.5
            90% from 2008 levels.
 Investments in air quality mean real results                          3.0


 Associated has been about the business of reducing air emissions for a long time. Associated has invested
 more than $1 billion to improve air quality – and achieved significant results. The cooperative continues to   2.5
 invest in air quality; environmental controls to improve air quality cost Associated about $45 million annually,
 including fixed and operating costs.
                                                                       2.0


                                                                       1.5
                                                                                             1.23

                                                                       1.0



                                                                       0.5
                                                                                   0.25            0.28

                                                                       0.0
                                                                             1994 2020       1994 2020
                                                                            Sulfur dioxide  Nitrogen oxides
                                                                          Pounds emitted per million Btu (coal and gas  eet)

 Thomas Hill Energy Center

                                                                          Mercury declines

 Associated was one of the first to convert to cleaner fuel, install
 environmental equipment   Not to care for that upon which      1000  pounds of mercury
            we depend for our living, for the
 Achievements include low NOx burners, “over-fire air” technologies implemented at coal units and converting   reso urces entrusted to us, is simply
 all coal units to low-sulfur coal, which has reduced sulfur dioxide emissions more than 90% since 1994. And   800
 Associated was one of the first utilities to construct selective catalytic reduction equipment on large cyclone   ridic ulous. The best environmental-
 units, reducing nitrogen oxide emissions about 80% since 1994.  ists are the people out there
            depending on that land.                              600
 • Sulfur dioxide pounds emitted per million Btu dropped 93% from 3.72 in 1994 to 0.25 in 2020.
 • Nitrogen oxides pounds emitted per million Btu dropped 78% from 1.23 in 1994 to 0.28 in 2020.
                                           – O.B. Clark,
 Invested in clean air  retired Associated Electric board president  400
                                                                                                   MATS limit
 Low-sulfur coal also is lower in mercury. Associated further reduced mercury emissions with use of a refined   200
 coal additive,equipment improvements and construction of activated carbon injection systems.
                                                                                                      88
 Mercury declined 89% from more than 800 pounds in 2010 to 88 pounds in 2020, about 60% below the Mer-  0
 cury Air Toxics Standards (MATS) limit.                             2008  2010  2012  2014  2018  2019  2020


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