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Environment / Recycling

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Air

Weston 4 Means "Cleaner Air for Wisconsin."

Cleaner air from a coal-fueled power plant?

Yes. When Weston 4 becomes operational in 2008, it will produce 500-megawatts of the cleanest electricity from the fleet of coal-fueled power plants on the Wisconsin Public Service electric system. It will lessen our reliance on our older power plants resulting in an overall cleaner environment. (About 70 percent of our electrical needs are currently met using coal fuel. Existing coal-fueled power plants, Weston 1, 2 and 3 are in full compliance with all emission requirements.)

Example to the Industry

The Weston 4 air permit is the most stringent for this type of power plant, making it one of the lowest emitting units in the country. (Some plants may have a more restrictive limit for one type of emission or another, but the Weston 4 permit has restrictive limits for numerous emissions.)

Identified Emissions

Strict limits are being finalized for mercury, nitrogen oxides(NOx), sulfur dioxide(SO2) and particulates, as well as other regulated emissions.

Limits will be adhered to by using "cleaner coal technology," a super-efficient combustion process featuring a more efficient fuel burn, less fuel used, less emissions, less resultant ash, and low sulfur coal as a fuel.

Features of Weston 4's Cleaner Coal Technology

Expensive, but Worth It!

Air emission control systems on Weston 4 cost $120-million, or 16 percent of the total construction cost. ( Total construction costs of Weston Unit 1 and 2 were $23.5 million and the price tag for Weston 3 was $229 million.)

Comparing Weston 4 to other WPSC Units

Weston 4 will emit:

Mercury Controls at Weston 4

Weston 4 is the first in Wisconsin to use a sorbent injection control device for mercury emission reduction. On March 15, 2005, the Environmental Protection Agency (E.P.A.) finalized new mercury emission standards for coal burning power plants. Weston 4's mercury limitations are more restrictive than the new finalized mercury standards. Weston 4 includes mercury controls to capture mercury, before it is emitted.

About 55% of all mercury emissions in the world come from nature—oceans, volcanoes and forest fires. Another 42% are manmade, with a large portion coming from outside the United States. About 1% of all mercury emissions are the result of power plants within the United States.

Mercury in Wisconsin

In Wisconsin, 6,600 lbs. of mercury are emitted into the air each year. Of that, 2,200 or 1/3 comes from coal-fueled boilers for electrical generation at power plants, paper mills and other industrial processes. The three operating units at Weston contribute 143 lbs per year. The six operating units at the Pulliam Power Plant site in Green Bay contribute 126 lbs. per year. With restrictive controls, Weston 4 will emit 77 lbs per year.

Mercury Health Effects

Like many pollutants, mercury can be toxic to humans at certain levels. Some mercury emissions occur naturally. Some are manmade and found in burning incinerators, industrial processes, hospitals and when coal is burned. Mercury is present in air and water, but at concentrations that are not considered a health threat. Certain forms of airborne mercury can settle into aquatic systems. This mercury can be converted into a form that accumulates in fish (methyl mercury). If humans eat these fish, they can absorb mercury. Since the 1980's the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) has issued annual fish advisories for safe fish consumption. Health experts are attempting to determine a safe level for consuming mercury.

Public Service involved in National Mercury Research Project

The new mercury control technology for Weston 4 has been tested as part of a national research project at a coal-fueled power plant near Kansas. The project is sponsored by the Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory, the Electric Power Research Institute and other energy companies. News Release

Holcomb
Holcomb Power Plant Unit 1

Water

Water Usage - Weston 4 will use water from the Wisconsin River in its cooling process. A cooling water facility was designed to help conserve water usage and ensure water discharged back into the river that will not have a negative effect on aquatic life. The existing Weston plant's water intake structure is used for Weston 4.

We have inventoried all the wells within a half-mile of the Weston site and determined that there will be minimal, if any, impact on local wells. We will use the Village of Krononwetter's municipal water system for potable water. For Weston 3 and 4, we will use the Kronenwetter waste-water disposal system as we are abandoning our existing sanitary drain field.

Land

The Weston Power Plant site is about 345 acres and is designed for multiple units. The Weston 4 power plant is directly east of the existing Weston 3 unit.

Loop Rail Track - There will be an increase in rail traffic as more coal deliveries will be needed. To minimize the impact to local traffic, a loop track system is included in the Weston 4 design. This allows us to bring all the rail cars off of the main track and onto the Weston plant property. This would eliminate having to break the long line of cars on the main track and then bring them onto the plant site. Currently, Weston Units 1, 2 and 3 require three to four rail shipments per week. Initial estimates are the new plant would double the deliveries.

Ash Disposal - Ash generated from the combustion of Weston 4 coal will be marketed and recycled to the extent possible. Ash that cannot be reused will be hauled off-site and disposed of at an existing licensed landfill.

Coal Pile - The coal pile will need to be twice the size of the current pile. There is sufficient space to handle a larger pile. A one-month reserve amount of coal is needed on site to continue operating the plant in the event coal shipments are disrupted.

Noise - The plant is designed and operated to control noise. The major equipment of the project is enclosed within buildings and sound attenuation features are included in our designs. Noise was addressed in the application and received approval from our regulators.

Aesthetics - Weston 4 exterior is slightly larger than the Weston 3 building façade. Weston 4 will use the same exterior color scheme as Weston 3. A landscaping plan is designed to include a buffer area and trees and shrub placements to make the site more pleasing to passersby.

Recycling Efforts

Wisconsin's Largest Construction Recycling Effort

Earth Day Celebration

Earth Day was initiated in 1970 by Wisconsin's own US Senator Gaylord Nelson. Earth Day is a day set aside for all of us — individuals, organizations, schools and businesses — to reflect on the beauty and fragility of our natural world and to think about our place in it.

Wisconsin's Largest Construction Recycling Effort

The simple value behind that first earth day, the preservation of rich land, clean air, and pure water, are the ideals behind all work done at WasteCap Wisconsin.

To date, our construction workers have recycled about 80.46 percent of the Weston 4 construction waste. These materials have found new uses and have been diverted from area landfills.


 

WasteCap Wisconsin
WasteCap Wisconsin congratulates Weston 4 on
Earth Day for their outstanding recycling program.

Some of the items recycled include:

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