FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 28, 2002
DEP/Gulf
Power Agree On Plan To Reduce Pollution
TALLAHASSEE—Air
quality in the Pensacola region will improve significantly
thanks to an agreement negotiated by the Department of
Environmental Protection with Gulf Power. The agreement
calls for Gulf Power to upgrade its operation to cut
nitrogen oxide emission rates by 61 percent at its Crist
generating plant by 2007 with major reductions beginning
in early 2005. The Crist plant is a significant source of
nitrogen oxide emissions in the Pensacola area.
"In human terms, the
people of northwest Florida will literally breathe easier
once these emissions are reduced," said Department of
Environmental Protection Secretary David B. Struhs.
"In legal terms, more stringent federal clean air
standards are on the horizon and this is an important step
toward meeting that tougher test in the future."
The pollution reduction
agreement has been jump-started, in part, by a new law
backed by the Department, passed by the Legislature and
signed by Governor Bush. The law provides financial
incentives for power plants, such as Crist, that emit
relatively large quantities of pollutants, but meet air
quality standards. In order to entice these utilities to
further reduce emissions, the new law allows for cost
recovery when meeting environmental protection targets
beyond what is required by law.
Highlights of the plan,
subject to the approval of the Public Service Commission,
include:
- Gulf Power will shut
down three of the plant’s 1940s-era generating
units by 2006.
- "Selective
catalytic reduction" will be installed on the
plant’s largest generating unit, in addition to
building a new "electrostatic
precipitator", resulting in an 85 percent
reduction on that unit by May 1, 2005.
- Employ the use of
cleaner burning renewable energy sources, such as
wood chips, wherever possible.
- Complete studies
designed to determine the feasibility of adding
further controls, such as converting generators from
coal to natural gas and additional
installations of SCR, to other Crist Plant units by
2007.
The agreement with Gulf
Power is part of a continuing effort by the State to
address air quality concerns in the Pensacola area. This
year, the Legislature funded a Department request of
nearly $500,000 to deploy technology designed to detect
other sources of air pollution in the region. Information
gleaned will enable the Department to launch additional
measures designed to enhance air quality.
-30-
Press Office
