Frequently Asked Questions - Comprehensive Energy Plan
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Which plants will receive environmental investments? Environmental upgrades are underway at the Iatan 1 unit in Missouri and the La Cygne 1 unit in Kansas. What exactly will be done to these plants? Planned environmental upgrades at Iatan 1 and La Cygne 1 include installation of Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) equipment. Iatan 1 will also incorporate flue gas desulphurization units and a baghouse (fabric filters). These technologies will result in significant emissions reductions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and mercury to meet or exceed existing and anticipated federal air quality standards. What is the timetable for these environmental improvements? KCP&L's plan calls for a proactive investment in environmental technology to reduce emissions at existing facilities before being required to do so by federal regulations or legislation. Installation of Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) equipment at La Cygne 1 is expected to be complete before ozone season 2007. Environmental improvements at Iatan 1 are underway with expected completion in the summer of 2009. Why are environmental upgrades necessary? KCP&L is taking the proactive step of making these environmental upgrades at existing facilities before being required to do so by new federal air quality regulations or legislation. Our environmental upgrades are also part of a larger regional air quality action plan being developed by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Mid-America Regional Council (MARC), the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), and the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) to ensure that Kansas City remains in compliance with current and future air quality standards. How will the plan affect local air quality? When KCP&L's plan is fully implemented, total system emissions of nitrogen oxides and sulfur dioxide will be significantly less than what they are today, even after the addition of a new coal-fired power plant. What is being done to reduce particulates? Environmental upgrades at current facilities would ensure compliance with the Clean Air Interstate Rule and would further reduce future particulate emissions from current levels. Iatan 1 currently uses an electrostatic precipitator, which is designed to remove 99.4% of total particulate emissions. Although Iatan 1 currently emits far fewer particulate emissions than allowed under its permit, under the plan, the facility would upgrade to a 99.9% efficient fabric filter, known for its efficiency in removing fine particulates (those less than 2.5 microns in diameter). In addition, the new coal-fired plant at Iatan would also be built with a 99.9% efficient fabric filter.
What is being done to address carbon dioxide? The addition of wind will allow us to produce new electricity without producing any additional carbon dioxide. This will improve the overall carbon dioxide profile for the region. How will emission reductions be measured? As owners and operators of these facilities, we will work closely with the Environmental Protection Agency, Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE) and the Missouri Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) to carefully measure the output from each plant. Will the proposed landfill for a second plant meet requirements? The on-site, 140-acre landfill will meet all Corps of Engineers/MDNR permit requirements and be built to the same standards as a commercial sanitary waste landfill to minimize groundwater contamination concerns. Only coal combustion waste and clean fill from the Iatan site will be disposed of in the on-site landfill. These requirements exceed the normal regulatory requirements for a utility ash landfill.
Will the proposed landfill impact the local drinking water? With the controls that are being installed, there should be no impact on the local drinking water supply. The purpose of the groundwater monitoring system is to identify any issue before it becomes a problem. |