updated: 7/23/2010 2:14:15 PM
InsideINdianaBusiness.com Report
Hoosier Energy Rural Electric Cooperative Inc. has agreed to install pollution control technology at its two coal-fired power plants in southwest Indiana. The settlement with the Justice Department and Environmental Protection Agency also requires the company to pay $950,000 and spend $5 million on environmental mitigation projects.
Press Release
WASHINGTON, July 23, -- Hoosier Energy Rural Electric Cooperative Inc., an Indiana electric generation and transmission cooperative, has agreed to install state-of-the-art pollution control technology at its two coal-fired power plants in Indiana, the Justice Department and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced today. The settlement, filed in federal court today, will reduce harmful air pollution by more than 24,500 tons per year, and requires Hoosier to pay a civil penalty of $950,000 and spend $5 million on environmental mitigation projects.
The settlement requires Hoosier to reduce air pollution from the cooperative's Merom and Ratts Stations, located in southwest Indiana. Emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) will be reduced by almost 20,000 tons and nitrogen oxides (NOx) by more than 1800 tons. The settlement will also reduce harmful sulfuric acid mist and particulate matter emissions. To achieve these reductions, Hoosier will upgrade existing, and install new, pollution controls at the Merom and Ratts plants, and comply with annual tonnage limitations across its system. Hoosier estimates that it will spend between $250 and $300 million upgrading and installing pollution controls at its coal-fired units through the end of 2015.
The state of Indiana joined in the settlement and will receive $100,000 of the $950,000 civil penalty.
"The large reductions in harmful air pollutants including sulfuric acid mist emissions secured by this settlement will have a significant beneficial impact on air quality in Indiana and downwind states," said Ignacia S. Moreno, Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division. "The Justice Department is committed to vigorously enforcing our nation's environmental laws, and we are pleased that Hoosier has agreed to install state-of-the art controls that will significantly reduce harmful emissions."
"This settlement continues our important enforcement initiative to reduce harmful air pollution from coal-fired power plants and provide the public with cleaner, healthier air to breathe," said Cynthia Giles, assistant administrator for EPA's Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance. "Pollution from these sources can cause severe respiratory and cardiovascular impacts, and are significant contributors to acid rain, smog and haze. Coal-fired power plants of all sizes are large sources of air emissions, and EPA is committed to making sure that they all comply with the law."
Hoosier will spend $5 million on environmental mitigation projects in its service territory to address the impacts of past emissions. Hoosier must direct $200,000 for projects to mitigate the harm caused by Hoosier's excess emissions at lands owned by the U.S. Forest Service. The remaining $4.8 million will be spent on one or more of the following projects:
Coal Bed Methane: Hoosier will capture and combust methane from coal beds to generate at least 10 megawatts of electricity. Carbon dioxide emissions resulting from the combustion of methane will be supplied to a greenhouse for use as a fertilizer.
Wood Appliance Changeout and Retrofits: Hoosier will sponsor a wood-burning appliance changeout and retrofit project. Hoosier will provide incentives through rebates, discounts, and in some instances, actual replacement of old, inefficient, high polluting wood-burning technology.
Clean Diesel Retrofits: Hoosier will retrofit in-service, public diesel engines with emission control equipment designed to reduce air pollutants.
Solar Technologies: Hoosier will install solar power systems on public schools or non-profit groups in the company's service territory.
The settlement marks the federal government's 20th settlement under its national enforcement initiative to reduce emissions from coal-fired power plants under the Clean Air Act's New Source Review requirements. SO2 and NOx, two key pollutants emitted from power plants, have numerous adverse effects on human health and the environment. These pollutants are converted in the air to fine particles of particulate matter that can cause severe respiratory and cardiovascular impacts, and premature death. SO2 and NOx are also significant contributors to acid rain, smog and haze. In addition, air pollution from power plants can drift significant distances downwind, thereby effecting not only local communities, but also communities in a much broader area.
The proposed settlement was lodged in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Indiana and is subject to a 30-day public comment period and final court approval.
Source: U.S. Department of Justice
This article brought to you by the Indiana Renewable Energy Association.
Showing posts with label Hoosier Energy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Hoosier Energy. Show all posts
Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Saturday, October 10, 2009
Bathing in Sunshine: West Washington School Students Enjoy Solar Hot Water
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Campbellsburg, IN – Faculty may not mind if the students of West Washington High School take a few more moments when washing their hands from now on as they will be washing with water heated from the sun. Students and faculty at West Washington High School will host a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate their two new solar hot water systems installed at the beginning of the school year. The two systems have supplied the school with clean, energy efficient hot water ever since.
The unique system is the first of its kind for an Indiana public school, and features a two-panel and a three-panel system located at opposite ends of the building to supply hot water to each end. The solar hot water systems will provide up to 70% of the hot water needed by the school over the course of the year, saving tons of greenhouse gases linked to climate change and saving many thousands of taxpayer dollars in energy savings over its projected 30 year life span. The design of the system into two loops allowed the existing large hot water recirculation loop to be reconfigured so that hot water doesn’t have to travel from one end of the school to the other, resulting in even more energy savings.
“We were spending hundreds of dollars every month just to keep hot water circulating in that loop, even when the school was empty,” said Tim Reinhart, Facilities Manager for the school, “I‘ve been looking for a way to increase our efficiency and reduce our expenses, and the solar hot water systems are doing just that, plus providing our students with a unique and valuable learning tool.”
The project was made possible through collaboration, teamwork and a generous grant of $25,000.00 from Hoosier Energy and Jackson County REMC. Officials from both utilities will be on hand at the event to present a ceremonial check to the school. “We are thrilled to help West Washington School with this grant. We wanted to distribute the grant money to the renewable energy project that would have the most impact, both short term and long term, and we knew that the school had high electric bills,” Said Brian Wolka of Jackson County REMC. “We put a monitor on their hot water system and found that the recirculation loop and their aging 600-gallon boiler were the culprits. We approached Tim with the idea of solar hot water and he was all for it. The energy savings, plus the great educational opportunity for the students, faculty and community make this project a winner for everyone.”
The ribbon cutting will be held on Monday, October 19th at 6 p.m. in the cafeteria at West Washington High School, located at 8028 West Batts Road, Campbellsburg, IN 47108. Refreshments will be provided, followed by the ribbon cutting and presentation of the grant money, and brief statements from key players in the solar project and local officials and community and school leaders from around the state. Educational information about the solar hot water system and solar energy in general will also be provided and time will be available for photos and questions from the media and community.
For more information please contact:
Carol Hoar,
West Washington School Corporation
9699 West Mt. Tabor Rd.
Campbellsburg, IN 47108-9454
Phone 812-755-4872
FAX 812-755-4843
The system was installed by InREA member Mann Plumbing of Bloomington.
Campbellsburg, IN – Faculty may not mind if the students of West Washington High School take a few more moments when washing their hands from now on as they will be washing with water heated from the sun. Students and faculty at West Washington High School will host a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate their two new solar hot water systems installed at the beginning of the school year. The two systems have supplied the school with clean, energy efficient hot water ever since.
The unique system is the first of its kind for an Indiana public school, and features a two-panel and a three-panel system located at opposite ends of the building to supply hot water to each end. The solar hot water systems will provide up to 70% of the hot water needed by the school over the course of the year, saving tons of greenhouse gases linked to climate change and saving many thousands of taxpayer dollars in energy savings over its projected 30 year life span. The design of the system into two loops allowed the existing large hot water recirculation loop to be reconfigured so that hot water doesn’t have to travel from one end of the school to the other, resulting in even more energy savings.
“We were spending hundreds of dollars every month just to keep hot water circulating in that loop, even when the school was empty,” said Tim Reinhart, Facilities Manager for the school, “I‘ve been looking for a way to increase our efficiency and reduce our expenses, and the solar hot water systems are doing just that, plus providing our students with a unique and valuable learning tool.”
The project was made possible through collaboration, teamwork and a generous grant of $25,000.00 from Hoosier Energy and Jackson County REMC. Officials from both utilities will be on hand at the event to present a ceremonial check to the school. “We are thrilled to help West Washington School with this grant. We wanted to distribute the grant money to the renewable energy project that would have the most impact, both short term and long term, and we knew that the school had high electric bills,” Said Brian Wolka of Jackson County REMC. “We put a monitor on their hot water system and found that the recirculation loop and their aging 600-gallon boiler were the culprits. We approached Tim with the idea of solar hot water and he was all for it. The energy savings, plus the great educational opportunity for the students, faculty and community make this project a winner for everyone.”
The ribbon cutting will be held on Monday, October 19th at 6 p.m. in the cafeteria at West Washington High School, located at 8028 West Batts Road, Campbellsburg, IN 47108. Refreshments will be provided, followed by the ribbon cutting and presentation of the grant money, and brief statements from key players in the solar project and local officials and community and school leaders from around the state. Educational information about the solar hot water system and solar energy in general will also be provided and time will be available for photos and questions from the media and community.
For more information please contact:
Carol Hoar,
West Washington School Corporation
9699 West Mt. Tabor Rd.
Campbellsburg, IN 47108-9454
Phone 812-755-4872
FAX 812-755-4843
The system was installed by InREA member Mann Plumbing of Bloomington.
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