Emissions Reduction Projects

Emissions Reduction Projects

FPD Power Development is approaching a milestone in its work as part of an ongoing seven-year emissions reduction effort to ensure the continued improvement of air quality for years to come.

Xcel Energy, Black Dog

The original Unit 1 boiler/turbine and the Unit 2 boiler, installed in the 1950s and fired on coal, were replaced with a natural gas combined-cycle unit (Unit 5), which includes a natural gas-fired turbine-generator combined with a heat recovery steam generator. Exhaust heat from Unit 5 provides power to the Unit 2 steam turbine. The repowering project, completed in summer 2002, boosts output from the two original units by more than 100 megawatts, and results in greater operating efficiency and cleaner power production.

Basin Electric, Leland Olds Station

The Leland Olds Station has always been in full compliance with all its federal and state environmental permits. By adding the scrubbers, Leland Olds will be in a better position to operate for an additional 20 to 30 years. Commercial operation for the Unit 1 scrubber began in 2011 and the Unit 2 scrubber is scheduled for completion in 2012.

Great River Energy, Pleasant Valley

Pleasant Valley Station is Great River Energy's newest natural-gas fired combustion turbine plant, with the first two units operational in 2001, and the third in 2002. The power plant uses three large simple-cycle combustion turbines to produce approximately 420 megawatts of electricity on a hot summer day and more than 480 megawatts on a cold winter day.

Xcel Energy, A.S. King

The King plant was completely rehabilitated from 2004-2007 as part of Xcel Energy's Metro Emissions Reduction Project. Improvements included steam turbine replacement, steam generator repairs and modifications, coal handling upgrades and the addition of state-of-the-art air quality control equipment. The improvements were targeted at significantly reducing air emissions and restoring the King unit to its original electricity output capacity, while extending the life of the plant.

Xcel Energy, High Bridge

This project involved replacing the existing High Bridge facility with a 390-megawatt natural gas combined-cycle unit that includes two combustion turbines, corresponding heat recovery generators and a new steam turbine. The equipment was installed in a new building on the existing site and the original plant was demolished. The in-service date for this project was May 2008.

Xcel Energy, Blue Lake

Each of the two new turbines would be fired by clean-burning natural gas and would have a summer capacity of approximately 160-megawatts. Currently, the Blue Lake plant has four units fired by oil and a capacity of 225-megawatts; the Angus Anson plant has two units that can be fired by either natural gas or oil and a capacity of 223-megawatts. "The two new turbines are needed to ensure a reliable supply of power during peak demand periods in 2005 and thereafter,"

Great River Energy, Cambridge

Great River Energy has constructed a 150-megawatt natural gas-fired peaking power generation facility at an existing site near Cambridge, Minnesota. The facility began providing peaking power to Great River Energy's 28 member distribution cooperatives, including nearby East Central Energy, beginning in April 2007.

Xcel Energy, Riverside

This project involved replacing two coal-fired units at the Northeast Minneapolis plant with a new 390-megawatt natural gas combined-cycle arrangement. The in-service date for this project was May 2009.

Faribault Energy Park (FEP)

Faribault Energy Park (FEP) is located in Faribault, Minnesota. FEP is being constructed in two phases, with a single GE-7FA 160 MW combustion turbine in simple cycle and eventual conversion to combined cycle. FPD Power Development completed the simple cycle phase of the energy center in 2005.

Xcel Energy, Comanche 1 & 2

All units have low-nitrogen oxide (NOx) burners to control NOx, and lime-spray dryers to control sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions. Activated carbon injection is used to control mercury emissions on all three units. Unit 3 has a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system to also reduce NOx emissions. As a result of the plant’s environmental improvements, overall SO2 and NOx emissions at Comanche Station are lower, even with an additional unit on line.