*This information is an excerpt from pages 25-26, Management's Discussion & Analysis, from the 2004 TECO Energy Annual Report.
Projects committed to under the Consent Decree and Consent Final Judgment will result in significant reductions in emissions. Since 1998, Tampa Electric has reduced annual SO2, NOx and particulate matter (PM) from its facilities by 161,642 tons, 39,066 tons, and 9,285 tons, respectively.
Reductions in SO2 emissions were accomplished through the installation of scrubber systems on Big Bend Units 1 and 2 in 1999. Big Bend Unit 4 was originally constructed with a scrubber. The Big Bend Unit 4 scrubber system was modified in 1994 to allow it to scrub emissions from Big Bend Unit 3 as well. Currently the scrubbers at Big Bend Station remove more than 95% of the SO2 emissions from the flue gas streams.
The repowering of Gannon Station to Bayside Power Station in April 2003 (Bayside Unit 1) and January 2004 (Bayside Unit 2) has resulted in a significant reduction in emissions of all pollutant types. Tampa Electric’s decision to install additional NOx emissions controls on all Big Bend units will result in the further reduction of emissions. By 2010, the SCR projects will result in the phased reduction of NOx by 59,652 tons per year from 1998 levels. In total, Tampa Electric’s emission reduction initiatives will result in the reduction of SO2, NOx and PM emissions by 89%, 87%, and 70%, respectively, below 1998 levels. With these improvements in place, Tampa Electric’s facilities will meet the same standards required of new power generating facilities and help to significantly enhance the quality of the air in the community. Due to pollution control co-benefits from the Consent Final Judgment and Consent Decree, reductions in mercury emissions have occurred due to the repowering of Gannon Station to Bayside Station. At Bayside, where mercury levels have decreased 99% below 1998 levels, there are virtually zero mercury emissions. Additional mercury reductions are also anticipated from the installation of NOx controls at Big Bend Station, which would lead to a mercury removal efficiency of approximately 70%.
The repowering of Gannon Station to Bayside will also lead to a significant reduction in carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. It is expected that in 2005, the repowering will result in a decrease in CO2 emissions of approximately 5.2 million tons below 1998 levels. With this reduction, the Tampa Electric system CO2 emissions will be in line with its 1990 CO2 emission levels. As a result of all its already completed emission reduction actions, and upon completion of the SCR projects, Tampa Electric will have achieved emission reduction levels called for in Clean Air Act proposals including the Bush administration’s “Clear Skies” proposal.
View the entire 2005 Annual Report in Adobe Acrobat pdf format.
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