Ohio Edison, engaged in the generation, transmission and distribution of electricity, has agreed in a consent decree to repower one of its coal-burnt power plants using primarily renewable biomass fuels, revealed the Justice Department and US Environmental Protection Agency.
According to the agreement filed in federal court in Columbus, Ohio and joined by the states of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut, the company would repower the R.E. Burger Units 4 and 5 near Shadyside, Ohio with biomass fuel. This consent decree modifies consent decree in 2005, where Ohio Edison was due to reduce emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxide (NOx) at several of its coal-fired plants.
The modified consent decree would reduce emissions of SO2 and NOx from Burger’s current levels and also reduce carbon emissions from current levels annually by approximately 1.3 million tons. Burger would be the coal-fired electric utility, where greenhouse gas emissions would be reduced under a Clean Air Act consent decree.
The 2005 consent decree resolved a lawsuit filed in 1999 under the New Source Review provisions of the Clean Air Act regarding Ohio Edison’s W. H. Sammis plant. The consent decree required the company to reduce SO2 emissions not only at Sammis but also at several of its smaller plants, including Burger. The company, in order to to reduce Burger’s SO2 emissions, was provided with three options: to shut down the plant or to install a scrubber, or to repower with natural gas.
The company, under the modified agreement, would repower Burger beginning in 2012 almost with biomass fuels, and co-firing with around 20% low sulfur coal, including natural wood from waste tree trimmings and dedicated sustainable nurseries, agricultural crops, grasses and vegetation waste or products.
The Burger plant, following a year of initial operation and optimization, would be subjected to enforceable emissions rates for SO2, NOx and particulate matter (PM). Reductions from current levels of SO2 emissions are expected to be approximately 14,000 tons a year; 1,300 tons of Nox per year; and 700 tons of PM a year.
Conversion to biomass fuel combustion, according to this agreement, is expected to approach “carbon neutrality,” which means that CO2 emissions released by burning biomass fuel would be offset by the amount of CO2 absorbed from the atmosphere by the wood and vegetation grown to produce the fuel. After offset, Burger is expected to emit approximately 400,000 tons of CO2 a year, based on 20% coal co-firing, versus around 1.7 million tons from coal-fired combustion prior to repowering with biomass fuel.
John C. Cruden, Acting Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division, said: “We are pleased that Ohio Edison has chosen to significantly reduce greenhouse gases and other pollutants from the Burger plant and hope that Ohio Edison would become the standard-bearer for other companies considering conversion to renewable biomass fuels under the auspices of the EPA and state environmental agencies.”
Cynthia Giles, Assistant Administrator for EPA’s Office of Enforcement and Compliance Assurance, said: “Today’s settlement improves air quality for the local community and reduces greenhouse gas emissions by requiring the use of a renewable, carbon-neutral fuel to generate electricity. EPA would seek similar commitments from companies to replace coal-fired electric generation with cleaner, renewable energy in future Clean Air Act settlements.”
Lodged in the US District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, the consent decree is subject to a 30-day public comment period and approval by the federal court.