Executive Message
As one of the nation's leading energy companies, FirstEnergy is committed to protecting the environment while meeting our customers' need for a reliable and affordable supply of electricity. We achieve this balance by effectively managing the environmental impact of our activities, using natural resources wisely, improving our environmental performance, enhancing our environmental stewardship, and supporting research on environmental technologies.
These efforts are making a difference. Since the Clean Air Act was amended in 1990, we've reduced emissions of nitrogen oxides (NOx) by more than 60 percent and sulfur dioxide (SO2) by more than one-half.
Our nuclear plants also play a key role in our efforts to limit overall emissions. Because they produce some 40 percent of the electricity we generate, we effectively avoid, on average, approximately 166,000 tons of SO2, 62,000 tons of NOx and 25 million tons of CO2 each year that otherwise would have been emitted if we did not have these non-emitting sources of generation.
Overall, FirstEnergy companies have spent more than $5 billion on environmental protection since 1970. And we're committed to doing more. We're investing $1.1 billion over the next several years in environmental systems that will significantly reduce emissions of SO2 and NOx at our power plants. Under this program, which establishes the foundation for achieving emission reductions called for by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Clean Air Interstate and Clean Air Mercury rules, additional control equipment could be installed on nearly 5,500 megawatts (MW) of the company's 7,400 MW of coal-based generating capacity.
Achieving new emission reductions in a cost-effective manner requires a focus on research and development. FirstEnergy and our utility operating companies have participated in more clean-coal technology projects than any other electric utility in the nation. A recent example is the new, multi-pollutant control technology that is being tested at our R. E. Burger power plant near Shadyside, Ohio. A 50-megawatt commercial-scale demonstration of the Electro-Catalytic Oxidation™, or ECO technology - developed by Powerspan of New Durham, New Hampshire - is being conducted at the plant through the middle of 2005. ECO technology is designed to reduce NOx, SO2, fine particulates, and mercury emissions, and, if successful, will be ready for commercial use in the near future at coal-fired power plants across the country.
In addition, FirstEnergy is participating in an Electric Power Research Institute effort known as the "CoalFleet for Tomorrow" to evaluate advanced coal power systems, such as integrated gasification combined cycle, fluidized bed combustion of waste coal, and ultrasupercritical boilers burning pulverized coal.
FirstEnergy companies have a proud history of working with public and private interests on a variety of other environmental issues, including the preservation of wetlands, recycling by-products from our operations, and maintaining our transmission corridors in a manner conducive to wildlife diversity.
As a company, we know that these well-planned programs not only benefit the environment, they make good business sense, too.
Thanks for visiting our environmental Web site and for taking the time to learn more about what we are doing to minimize the environmental impact of meeting our customers' growing needs for electricity.
Anthony J. Alexander
President and CEO
FirstEnergy Corp. |
2007/2008 Corporate Responsibility Report
Air Issues Report
Managing Greenhouse Gases
Emission Trends
SNCR;
Waste Minimization
Toxic Release Inventory
Metro Parks Hike & Bike Trails
Largest Recycling Project in North America
|
