Environmental Quality and Protection

 

The Holland Board of Public Works is committed to improving and maintaining the environmental quality of the community.  The Electric Production Department maintains compliance with all environmental emission and control standards that have been promulgated by the United States Environmental Protection Agency and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality.  Below is a list of environmental accomplishments that have helped to improve the environmental quality of the community.

 

Nitrous oxide (NOx) emissions were reduced by 65% on Unit 5 in 2000.

 

Gas ignition was completed on Unit 3 in 2001 to reduce particulate matter emissions at start up.  Unit 4 and 5 currently utilize gas ignition. 

 

Low sulfur coal is burned to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions (SO2) and maintain compliance with environmental standards.

 

Three electrostatic precipitators are utilized for the control of particulate matter emissions.  These precipitators operate at a removal efficiency of over 99.5%.

 

Hazardous chlorine gas for the chlorination process was eliminated.  This removed the potential of a hazardous chemical release.

 

State of the art nitrous oxide (NOx) control equipment is utilized at the 48th Street Generation Station combustion turbines.  These controls reduce NOx emissions significantly below current environmental emission standards.