More power, fewer emissions
At Alabama Power, we are doing our part to help improve air quality for the health, and the environmental and economic development of Alabama. To begin, Alabama Power has always met or done better than the standards set by the federal government for air emissions designed to protect human health and the environment. We have a vigorous compliance and auditing program to ensure we meet those standards.
About a quarter of Alabama Power's generation is completely emission-free, thanks to the company's use of hydropower and nuclear energy. As for the company's fleet of fossil-fueled plants, emissions of nitrogen oxide (NOx) are down more than 70 percent since 1990, while emissions of sulfur dioxide (SO2) have dropped by nearly 40 percent. By 2012, we expect to report a two-thirds reduction in SO2 compared to 1990 as we complete our latest clean-air initiative.
Technology for cleaner air
Since 2002, Alabama Power has installed a series of Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) systems and related environmental equipment on our coal-fired power plants, at a cost of nearly $1 billion. SCRs operate like catalytic converters found on cars, only they are huge - each one standing 12-14 stories tall and covering half a football field. For each generating unit operating with an SCR, NOx emissions are reduced by about 80 percent.
Since 2008, Alabama Power has also spent another $1.7 billion to add enormous "scrubbers" to our coal-fired plants. Scrubbers are designed to reduce SO2 emissions by as much as 98 percent on the units where they are installed. Also, the combination of SCRs and scrubbers is expected to reduce mercury emissions by 60 to 80 percent on units where both technologies are applied.
| Clean-air improvements at Alabama Power plants | Plant Unit | County | Date of Service |
| Scrubbers | ||
| Gorgas 8-10 | Walker | January 2008 |
| Gaston 5 | Shelby | March 2010 |
| Miller 1 | Jefferson | January 2011 |
| Miller 2 | Jefferson | April 2010 |
| Miller 3 | Jefferson | December 2009 |
| Miller 4 | Jefferson | January 2010 |
| Barry 5 | Mobile | February 2010 |
| Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) | ||
| Gorgas 10 | Walker | May 2002 |
| Gaston 5 | Shelby | April 2006 |
| Miller 1 | Jefferson | May 2005 |
| Miller 2 | Jefferson | April 2005 |
| Miller 3 | Jefferson | March 2003 |
| Miller 4 | Jefferson | April 2003 |
| Barry 5 | Mobile | May 2008 |
| Baghouses | ||
| Gaston 2 | Shelby | June 1999 |
| Gaston 3 | Shelby | December 1996 |
| Selective Non Catalytic Reduction (SNCR) | ||
| Barry 1 | Mobile | May 2006 |
| Barry 2 | Mobile | June 2006 |
| Barry 3 | Mobile | June 2006 |
| Barry 4 | Mobile | April 2006 |
Click here to view charts that show how these technologies have reduced Alabama Power's emissions and emission rates.
In addition to our efforts related to emission reductions at Alabama Power plants, the company has also made significant investments in "greening" the company's vehicle fleet, including increasing the use of biofuels and purchasing hybrid trucks. No-idling policies have also helped reduce the company's fuel consumption. Employees, too, are helping reduce emissions through carpooling and by participating in the CommuteSmart vanpool program. The company's "NoZoner" program encourages employees and their families to reduce their driving and make habit changes that help reduce emissions during summer ozone season. And the company is a longtime, active supporter of Alabama Partners for Clean Air, which coordinates a variety of programs and initiatives designed to help improve air quality.
Another plus for air quality is the company's installation of wireless "smart meters" that eliminate the need for an employee to physically read each meter on a customer's property. The result: a yearly reduction of more than 4 million road miles traveled by meter readers, reducing fuel consumption and vehicle emissions.
