Press Release- Feb 02, 2007
OFFICE OF GOV. BILL RITTER, JR.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
FRIDAY, FEB. 2, 2007
Contact:
Evan Dreyer, 720.350.8370
Mark Salley, Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, 303.921.8594
GOV. RITTER ANNOUNCES PROPOSED AGREEMENT ON MERCURY EMISSIONS FOR POWER PLANTS
Gov. Bill Ritter today announced a multi-party agreement that will lead to new controls on power plants in Colorado and a significant reduction in mercury emissions.
The state's utilities, leading environmentalists, local public health officials, the Colorado Mining Association and the Air Quality Control Division of the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment approved the landmark agreement earlier today.
The consensus proposal, if adopted, would establish a Colorado Utility Mercury Reductions Program that will result in mercury reductions faster than federal requirements. The agreement now goes to the Air Quality Control Commission, which will consider it during its meeting on Tuesday.
"This is great news for Colorado and its citizens," Gov. Bill Ritter said. "I know how complex this issue is, and how many hours all of the parties spent working out these details, and I applaud them for their efforts. The utilities, the environmentalists, local government officials and others should be commended for their extraordinary efforts to hammer out an agreement that will protect Colorado's air, water and public health."
Jim Martin, executive director of Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, applauded the proposal. "This agreement will lead to earlier mercury emissions reductions than we would have seen from the EPA program," Martin said. "It is a workable plan that is good for Colorado."
The plan calls for new advanced control technologies to be installed in 2012 at two coal-fired power plants in Colorado: Pawnee power plant near Brush operated by Xcel Energy and Rawhide power plant near Ft. Collins operated by Platte River Power Authority.
The new control technologies will result in significant reductions in mercury emissions. Under the proposal, additional reductions would come in 2014 and again in 2018 from all other major coal-fired power plants in the state.