Developing Technology

The improvement in air quality in Illinois and the nation is the direct result of responsible and reasonable federal regulation and significant investment in emissions-reducing technology made by energy generators.

Since 1970, coal-generating energy producers have invested more than $50 billion in technology to reduce emissions. This investment will continue to grow as a result of the Clean Air Mercury Rule (CAMR), the first-ever regulation of coal-generated mercury emissions in the world.  The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s rules will require an investment of $52 billion from coal-fired power plants to develop, test and implement new technologies that will meet the new emissions requirements.

While it is not yet possible to remove mercury from the Western-sourced coal used in Illinois coal-fired power plants, CAMR provides a realistic timeframe to properly develop, test and implement new technologies to reduce emissions. The rule’s two-step phase-in of emissions reductions through 2018 will allow energy generators time to plan for projects and investments in a manner that protects reliability and jobs.

Technologies designed to remove mercury from coal used in Illinois coal-fired power plants are just now being developed and tested in full-scale applications.

The U.S. Department of Energy (USDOE) and the energy industry are currently testing various mercury removal technologies across the country, and early trials of a process called carbon injection have shown promise.

Here in Illinois, Midwest Generation and Dynegy have demonstrated their commitment to help lead the development of solutions by planning carbon injection field tests at Midwest Generation's Crawford Station in Chicago and Will County Station in Romeoville and Dynegy's Vermillion Plant near Danville.

Midwest Generation’s Crawford Station and Will County Station in Romeoville have been selected by the USDOE to participate in field tests for removing mercury that will be overseen by its National Energy Technology Laboratory. The test project will evaluate technologies designed to reduce mercury emissions in the combustion process.

The USDOE recently announced that it is funding 12 more field tests that will last from 20 to 36 months, demonstrating further that the federal government recognizes that we still have a lot to learn and develop between now and 2009.

While progress is being made, it will take additional time and investment to identify, test and verify the emissions-control technologies that will allow Illinois coal-fired plants to continue to generate affordable, reliable and clean energy. 

Through the federal mercury rule, these plants will be able to properly assess test results and implement the most effective technologies.  Unfortunately, the Governor's proposal to achieve 90 percent reductions statewide by 2009 overstates what technology can realistically achieve at this point in time.