The Tennessee Valley Authority cut smog-causing emissions from its coal-fired power plants at a faster rate than most U.S. utilities over the past two decades, according to new data released by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
TVA emissions of sulfur dioxide dropped by 82 percent from 1990 to 2009, compared with a 64 percent drop in such emissions nationwide in the same period, the EPA said.
The EPA study shows emissions of nitrogen oxides from TVA coal plants fell by nearly 86 percent from 1990 to 2009, compared with a 77 percent drop in such emissions among all utilities.
Anda Ray, TVA's senior vice president for environment and technology, said the federal utility has spent more than $5 billion since 1977 to install emission controls on nearly half of TVA's coal plants.
"That investment is paying off by allowing us to produce low-cost power in a manner that meets federal guidelines," Ray said.
Among the 59 coal-fired units at TVA's 11 fossil plants, TVA has installed scrubbers to cut sulfur dioxide on 17 units and has installed 21 catalytic converters to reduce nitrogen-oxide emissions, TVA spokesman Scott Brooks said.
"We were pretty aggressive in our cleanup efforts and didn't wait around to be told when and where to make all of these upgrades," Brooks said.
Despite the reductions, however, TVA remains one of the biggest sources of sulfur and nitrogen oxide pollutants in the Tennessee Valley. In 2009, TVA emitted 198,490 tons of sulfur dioxide and 57,740 tons of nitrogen oxides from its coal-fired plants, according to TVA.
"We can all breathe easier and enjoy a healthier environment because of the improvements TVA has made over the years," said John McFadden, executive director for the Tennessee Environmental Council. "But much of this is due to the pressure we and others put on TVA through the years and we can't let up on that now."
McFadden acknowledged that making further reductions in emissions will likely be costlier than it has in the past. He urged TVA to promote more conservation and renewable energy to reduce the need for smog-causing coal-fired generation.
TVA plans to idle nine more coal-fired units that lack emission controls, including six of the oldest units at its Widows Creek Fossil Plant near Stevenson, Ala., by 2015.
TVA is studying ways to further reduce emissions over the next 20 years as part of its Integrated Resource Plan, a power-planning guide which TVA directors are scheduled to decide upon at their April board meeting.