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Published - December, 5, 2005
Center to study mercury
Gulf Power facility will work to reduce emissions
Gulf Power Co. this month plans to begin operating
the first research center aimed at reducing toxic mercury emissions
from coal-fired power plants.
"We are establishing something here that doesn't exist anywhere else in
the world," said Jim Vick, manager of environmental affairs for Gulf
Power. "We believe we will make great strides in discovering how
mercury can be controlled."
The Gulf Power Mercury Research Center, scheduled for dedication today
at the utility's Crist Plant north of Pensacola, will use $5 million of
the best available technology to evaluate ways to reduce mercury
emissions in anticipation of federal regulations, officials said.
In 2010, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will require power
plants to cut mercury emissions by 20 percent to 30 percent, increasing
to 70 percent in 2018.
The Southern Research Institute, an independent, nonprofit center for scientific research, will operate the research center.
Gulf Power plans to share the results of its research with other
companies, environmental research organizations and governmental
agencies.
Using a portion of the 300 pounds of mercury emitted by the Crist Plant
annually, researchers initially plan to test five treatment methods
that have proved successful in trapping sulfur and nitrogen oxides --
federally regulated pollutants released by power plants that contribute
to acid rain.
For every ton of coal used, power plants emit mercury in an amount
equivalent to about 5 grains of sugar, making it difficult to capture,
according to Gulf Power.
"We may find the invention of new technology is needed to meet the
anticipated requirements," said Lynn Erickson, a company spokeswoman.
Mercury is the state's biggest threat to water quality, and until
researchers develop a proven technology capable of reducing mercury
emissions, it will be hard to find the capital investment needed to
produce, said Tom Atkeson, mercury coordinator for the state Department
of Environmental Protection.
"What Gulf Power is doing is very progressive," he said. "The work that
they are proposing to do will hopefully open the door to a family of
potential technology."
Mercury occurs naturally in the environment and is released into the
air from coal-burning power plants, factories, forest fires and
automobiles. It falls to the ground and into waterways. It then works
its way up the food chain to fish -- and finally into people who eat
seafood.
A neurotoxin, mercury poses a danger to the brain and nervous system of young children and developing fetuses.
State health officials have issued dietary guidelines for fish caught
in area waterways after testing found high levels of mercury in the
tissues of some fish.
Health threats and water-quality concerns have made mercury regulations
long overdue, said Michael O'Donovan, who serves on the board of
directors of the Southern Alliance for Clean Energy.
"I'm very pleased that Gulf Power is finally acknowledging what a toxin
mercury is and addressing it in a fashion that will hopefully expedite
the technology to cut mercury emissions," he said.
