TXU Power Announces "Largest Ever Voluntary Program" For Mercury Emissions Controls

June 13, 2007
Energy provider announces significant commitment to progressive emissions reduction plan for coal-fired plants ahead of upcoming regulation

TXU Power, a subsidiary of TXU Corp. and Texas Energy Future Holdings Limited Partnership (TEF), the holding company formed by Kohlberg Kravis Roberts & Co. (KKR), Texas Pacific Group (TPG) and other investors to acquire TXU Corp., announced today plans to install new activated carbon sorbent injection systems (SIS) at all of TXU's existing coal-fueled generation units to reduce mercury emissions. SIS are also included as part of the Best Available Control Technology used in the three new units planned for Oak Grove and Sandow.

"TXU Power will install new mercury emissions controls on every coal-fueled generation unit in its system -- the largest voluntary program ever undertaken in the nation," said Mike Greene, chairman and CEO of TXU Power. "The reduction will start well ahead of the recently finalized federal rulemaking schedule."

Up to this point, TXU Power has participated in more than 40 mercury measurement and control technology development and demonstration projects to evaluate different technologies. In cooperation with the U.S. Department of Energy, TXU Power hosted several different pilot scale demonstrations of mercury control technologies at its Big Brown and Monticello generation plants. Based on the pilot performance, the activated carbon SIS technology was chosen. TXU Power currently operates nine coal-fueled generation units at four different plant locations.

"TXU Power has been engaged in cutting-edge research of various mercury control technologies and monitoring initiatives at several power plants," said Greene. "Installation of SIS is expected to begin in 2008, and the entire coal-fueled fleet should have mercury emissions controls in place by 2011, provided all necessary permits are obtained in a timely manner."

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About the Author

Brad Kenney | Chief Marketing Officer

Brad Kenney is the former Technology Editor of IndustryWeek and now serves as director of the mobile/social platforms practice at R/GA, a global marketing/advertising firm in New York City.

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