We will conduct our business with the highest regard for ethics, regulatory authority and spirit as well as the letter of the environmental law. We will monitor and access our activities to assure compliance with environmental standards. We are prepared to deal with environmental emergencies or accidents quickly and responsibly, and will make all reasonable attempts to prevent inadvertent impacts on our environment.
In late 1999, Tampa Electric became the first U.S. power company to reach agreement with the Environmental Protection Agency as well as with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection on a sweeping $1.2 billion environmental plan.
With this landmark agreement, Tampa Electric found an environmentally significant, fiscally sound way to achieve dramatic emissions reductions while only minimally affecting customer costs and allowing reasonable returns for shareholders.
The cornerstone of the environmental plan has been the repowering of Bayside Power Station, which produces more than 1,800 megawatts of electricity. Combined with other key environmental initiatives, the repowering significantly reduced Tampa Electric's emissions.
By 2010, Tampa Electric’s sulfur dioxide emissions will decrease by 89 percent and nitrogen oxides emissions will decrease by 90 percent from 1998 levels.
Emissions reports show sulfur dioxide emissions from Tampa Electric’s Big Bend Power Station decreased by approximately 87 percent between 1998 and 2006. To accomplish these reductions, Big Bend Power Station uses a modern flue gas desulfurization or “scrubber” system.
By using natural gas at the new H.L. Culbreath Bayside Power Station along with high efficiency state-of-the-art emissions controls at our other coal-fired plants, Tampa Electric has further reduced emissions. Repowering with natural gas has reduced Bayside’s nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide emissions by approximately 99 percent to date and particulate matter emissions have decreased by more than 91 percent from 1998 levels.
These initiatives not only continued Tampa Electric's compliance with current requirements, but meet the same standards required of new power generating facilities and help to significantly enhance the quality of air in the community.
