(stock photo) Actions such as installing control equipment that collects emissions before they leave smokestacks, such as these, has become increasingly important to reducing air pollution.
North Carolina celebrates clean air milestone
Delicious Reddit

DECEMBER 07, 2005
By Happynews Staff

State and local leaders along with Progress Energy officials celebrated the state's first scrubber to begin operating under North Carolina's Clean Smokestacks Act at a news conference today. The Asheville Plant scrubber began operating on Nov. 17.
Scrubbers, formally called flue-gas desulfurization units, remove sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions from power plants. Scrubbers work by taking the gas produced from burning coal and passing it through a tower in which a water and limestone mixture is sprayed. The SO2 in the flue gas reacts with the limestone to produce gypsum, and the remaining water vapor rises from the stack.
"Our clean air projects represent an important long-term commitment to the environment, and today marks an important milestone for North Carolina," said Bob McGehee, chairman and CEO of Progress Energy. "While we have installed a variety of innovative technologies at our plants in recent years to reduce emissions, we are particularly proud that this scrubber is the first to come online under the Clean Smokestacks Act."
The Clean Smokestacks Act, which was passed by the North Carolina General Assembly in 2002, requires significant reductions in SO2 and nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions. When all the technologies are installed, the Asheville Plant will reduce NOx emissions by 93 percent from 1996 levels and reduce SO2 emissions by 93 percent from 2001 levels. According to the North Carolina Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR), the SO2 and NOx control technologies installed statewide as part of Clean Smokestacks will also remove 65 percent of mercury emissions.
"The emissions reductions on the part of Progress Energy will bring health benefits to the citizens of North Carolina and other states," said DENR Secretary Bill Ross. "The reductions will significantly reduce pollution events that can trigger asthma and other respiratory problems, while also reducing haze and acid rain."
In addition, Progress Energy is finding environmentally-friendly uses for the byproducts of the scrubbers, including gypsum, which can be used to make wallboard. Earlier this year, Progress Energy and U.S. Gypsum Company, a manufacturer and marketer of building and specialty products throughout the United States, completed a marketing agreement for the synthetic gypsum produced at the Asheville Plant. In addition, in February 2004, Progress Energy announced that it would sell gypsum from its Roxboro scrubbers, which are scheduled to begin operating in 2007 and 2008, to a wallboard facility that will be constructed adjacent to the plant.