SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Sept. 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recently listed Units 1 and 2 at AmerenEnergy Generating's Newton Power Station as the second and third lowest emitters of nitrogen oxide (NOx) among all U.S. coal fired plants operating without expensive SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) NOx removal equipment. In many cases, Newton Power Station is outperforming other stations which operate with the SCR technology, according to the EPA.
NOx is part of a family of byproducts of the combustion process that also includes nitrogen dioxide, nitric acid, nitrous oxide, nitrates and nitric oxide.
In January 2007, Newton personnel, in conjunction with technical support from equipment supplier Alstom, embarked upon a NOx reduction program designed to achieve state-of-the-art NOx performance through the use of aggressive process tuning, which involves making adjustments to boiler operating levels.
"Through the use of painstaking and diligent adjustments of various boiler operating parameters, Newton Generating Station was able to achieve a 25 percent reduction in the station NOX emission rate for the second quarter of 2007," said Ken Schoof, station manager.
Newton joins other plants owned and operated by Ameren and its generating subsidiaries that are among the best performers in the nation. Among the nation's lowest emitters of nitrogen oxide, Ameren has reduced nitrogen oxide emissions by more than 65 percent since 1990. The company has also identified 15 programs expected to reduce greenhouse gases by three million tons and is involved in a venture capital investment fund that encourages the commercialization of energy efficient electric and renewable technologies.
"AmerenEnergy Generation Company's ongoing commitment to lower NOx production will continue into the future as environment regulations become more stringent," said Alan Kelley, president and chief executive officer, AmerenEnergy Resources. "Ameren is dedicated to providing customers with clean, low-cost energy while preserving, protecting and, when possible, improving the environment. We have demonstrated our sensitivity to air quality issues through initiatives that have reduced air emissions well beyond regulatory requirements."
Ameren Corporation, through its subsidiary AmerenEnergy Generating Company, owns and operates two 600-megawatt generating units at its Newton Generating Station, located approximately six miles southwest of Newton, Ill.
