Allegheny Energy, Inc. (Allegheny), a electric utility company, has completed the installation of a $37 million cooling tower and wastewater treatment system at its Albright Power Station, near Morgantown, West Virginia. This project will conserve and protect local water resources, particularly the Cheat River. The installation of the cooling tower will result in 93% less water being withdrawn from the Cheat River and the discharged water’s temperature will be reduced.
The wastewater treatment system will make certain compliance with the new water quality standards.
The project is part of Allegheny’s ongoing environmental stewardship initiative. In 2008, the company accomplished a construction project to reduce emissions at its Pleasants Power Station situated in Willow Island, West Virginia. In addition Allegheny is installing scrubbers at its Fort Martin Power Station near Morgantown, West Virginia., and its Hatfield’s Ferry Power Station near Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. With the conclusion of these projects in 2009, Allegheny will have invested over $1.3 billion to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions by 70% from 2005 levels, transforming the company’s power plant fleet into one of the cleanest in the US with respect to sulfur dioxide.