Mohave was shut down in late 2005. Emissions data for Mohave, Valmy and Reid Gardner are from EPA.gov. Toquop presented at 90% capacity factor.

Part of the solution to solving the issue of high pollutants, high cost and low reliability in our electricity system is to replace old coal units with new, advanced technology units like the Toquop Energy Project. Any long term solution to reduction in man-made greenhouse gases will have to include replacing old units that are prevalent in our nation. According to the Department of Energy, the U.S. presently has approximately 315,000 of installed mega-watt capacity using coal for fuel. By 2030, over half of these coal plants will be more than 50 years old.

The simple, though admittedly time-consuming and costly, effort to replace these older units with new super-critical coal-fired boilers of the same total capacity would reduce greenhouse gases emitted by such coal-fired projects by as much as 25%. For example, the technology proposed for Toquop is approximately 25% more efficient than the typical 50 year old coal plant, meaning it will use 25% less fuel and emit 25% less CO2.

 

The Toquop Energy Project will be constructed with the most advanced, proven technology for a large scale coal fired power plant available. This technology is more advanced than the US EPA required technology called Best Available Control Technology or B.A.C.T. The technology includes:

• Low nitrogen oxide (NOx) burners and selective catalytic reduction to control NOx emissions;
• Low sulfur coal and wet flue gas desulfurization to control sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions;
• Wet flue gas desulfurization and a wet stack to control acid gas emissions, including sulfuric acid mist;
• Wet flue gas desulfurization to control mercury emissions. Activated carbon and hydrated quicklime injection to be installed before the fabric filter baghouse if needed for additional reductions, with secondary reductions in SO2 emissions and sulfuric acid mist;
• A fabric filter to control particulate emissions; and
• High efficiency combustion to control carbon monoxide (CO) and volatile organic compound emissions.

Emissions Control Technology Slides

One state-of-the-art supercritical, pulverized coal-burning boiler will provide more efficient power than standard designed boilers. This means that the Toquop Energy Project will burn 10 to 15% less coal to make the same amount of electricity.

Bureau of Land Management

The Bureau of Land Management (BLM) must approve the right of ways for the Toquop Energy project. The BLM has determined that the approval of the right of ways and other aspects of the proposed project are major Federal actions that requires the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

Other Federal agencies are cooperating with the BLM, the lead Federal agency preparing this EIS, including the US Surface and Transportation Board, the Nevada Department of Wildlife, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Before the right of ways can be approved each of these agencies must approve aspects of the construction and operation of the power plant and the rail line.

Toquop Energy Project is working very closely with local constituents to address concerns and answer questions. As part of the air permit and environmental impact statement process, meetings at various locations near the project were held during the scoping process to address issues and give local people access to agencies charged with evaluating the project.

Toquop is sensitive to the impact of the power plant on the area. All aspects of the construction and operation are being studied to ensure local, state and federal regulations are met.

Sub-bituminous coal will be mined from the Wyoming Powder River Basin Coal mines. The coal has low sulfur levels to allow for minimized sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions.