Improvements At Coleman Plant to Improve Air Quality
02.07.2006


(LOUISVILLE, Ky.) -- Thanks to a $98 million investment in cleaner air, residents near Hancock County will be seeing a white plume of water vapor coming from Western Kentucky Energy's Kenneth Coleman plant in Hawesville.

A new flue gas desulfurization (FGD) system, commonly referred to as a "scrubber," is designed to reduce sulfur dioxide (SO2) from all three coal-fired generators at Coleman by at least 95 percent. The system, currently in the startup and testing phase, ensures that Coleman exceeds the current environmental standards and is part of the company's ongoing obligation to comply with the Clean Air Act.

"This is a significant step in our ongoing environmental efforts," said Ralph Bowling, vice president, Power Operations at Western Kentucky Energy. "It significantly reduces sulfur emissions while allowing us to continue to utilize low-cost Western Kentucky coal."

As part of the project, a 450-foot chimney was constructed. The cleaned gas is routed through the chimney, saturated with water and results in the visible white and billowing plume.

Additionally, one of the by-products of the process is synthetic gypsum, which will be recycled and used in wallboard and other products.



Western Kentucky Energy is a subsidiary of E.ON U.S. LLC, Kentucky's primary energy services provider and one of the nation's largest, low-cost energy firms. Based in Louisville, Kentucky, E.ON U.S. is a diversified energy services company with businesses in power generation and project development; retail gas and electric products and utility services; and asset-based energy marketing.