January 18, 2008
We're committed to reduce mercury emissions
During the past two weeks, a local environmental group has publicly distributed handbills concerning the impact of mercury emissions from the Big Stone Plant site. The group's information was in error, so I'd like to explain our plans for controlling mercury once Big Stone II is on-line.
In August 2007, we announced that the Big Stone II participants committed to installing technology that is most likely to remove 90 percent of the mercury emissions from the Big Stone site – that includes the existing Big Stone Plant and Big Stone II.
The commitment mirrors the 2006 Minnesota Mercury Reduction Act, which applies to Minnesota 's largest existing power plants and which requires use of mercury reduction technology by 2015. The 2006 Minnesota legislation is regarded as one of the most stringent mercury statutes in the nation.
The existing Big Stone Plant emits 189 pounds of mercury each year. By committing to the 90 percent removal goal, we estimate emissions from the site will be reduced to 70 to 90 pounds. Thus, we will more than double the amount of power produced at the site while cutting mercury emissions to less than half.
Reducing mercury emissions from the Big Stone site is consistent with our mission of meeting your growing need for energy and with our firm pledge to be a good environmental steward. I believe our willingness to comply with a mercury emissions reduction similar to the 2006 Minnesota Mercury Reduction Act demonstrates an important part of that overall commitment.
Sincerely,
Mark Rolfes,
Manager
Big Stone II Project
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