Two Years-In-A-Row:
Rawhide Energy Station Ranked Among the Cleanest
in the U.S.
FORT
COLLINS , Colo. -- For the second year in a row,
Platte River
Power Authority's Rawhide Energy Station has been
named the fifth cleanest coal-fired power plant in
the nation based on sulphur dioxide (SO2) emission
rates in an independent report recently released
by Electric Light & Power magazine. The rankings
are based on 2002 data.
"
Rawhide continues to produce the lowest sulfur dioxide
emissions in Colorado ," said Brian Moeck, Platte
River 's general manager. "We reduced SO2 by
nine percent in 2002 and we plan to reduce nitrogen
oxides by 35 percent beginning in 2005. This is another
example of how we, a community-owned utility, make
improvements because we want to, not because we have
to."
The SO2 rankings are "dependent upon two factors:
how well a plant's scrubber works and the quality
of the coal being used," according to the report.
"
Platte River deliberately purchases high-quality,
low-sulfur coal from the Powder River Basin in Wyoming
, which makes our scrubber very efficient," said
Jason Frisbie, division manager of power production.
Platte River signed a landmark agreement with the
Colorado Air Pollution Control Division in October
2002, voluntarily reducing emissions at Rawhide.
The Voluntary Emissions Reduction Agreement (VERA)
commits to the reduction of SO2, which has been accomplished,
and nitrous oxide (NOx).
Even as energy consumption in Platte River 's member
communities increases due to growth, the total emissions
generated at Rawhide have been reduced. Rawhide currently
operates well below its permitted levels. These significant
emissions reductions are permanent and are being
implemented even though they are not required.
Platte River was motivated to pursue a VERA by its
mission to provide reliable, low-cost and environmentally
responsible electricity to its owner communities.
In addition, Platte River's environmental policy
states, " Platte River will consider environmental
factors as an integral part of operating decisions," and "...as
technology improves and opportunities arise, be proactive
in evaluating and implementing improvements that
balance environmental and other socioeconomic concerns."
"
Platte River 's customers in all four communities
have expressed a strong interest in environmental
stewardship based on customer surveys," said
John Bleem, division manager of customer services. " Platte
River 's board of directors provides policy direction
for continuous environmental improvement through
their leadership. The staff at Rawhide deserves a
lot of credit for finding new ways to operate with
lower emissions while maintaining high reliability."
Platte River Power Authority generates and transmits
reliable, low-cost and environmentally responsible
electricity to its owner communities of Estes Park
, Fort Collins , Longmont and Loveland for delivery
to their utility customers.
-30-
|