Plant operator PNM Resources will install mercury emissions reduction technology, making the 1798MW plant one of the first coal-fired plants in the nation to make a voluntary investment in this technology. The technology will remove 16,000 tons of pollution, the equivalent of removing about half a million cars from New Mexico's roads.
The new technology will reduce mercury, particulate matter, nitrogen oxide (NOx) and sulphur dioxide (SO2) emissions over the next four-and-a-half years.
The mercury control technology will be installed on the plant’s four units. After initial evaluation of the performance of this technology on Units 3 and 4, PNM will install the technology on the plant's remaining two units.
Advanced low-NOx burners and overfire air will be installed to reduce the NOx emissions rate by 35% from the current permitted level. Installation of baghouse control technology will reduce the particulate matter emission rate by 70% from the current permitted level.
Additional SO2 emissions reductions will be won from increased scrubbing by enhancing the removal efficiency of the existing pollution control system.
PNM plans to begin installation of the new pollution equipment no later than October 2006 and the equipment will be fully operational on all four units by January 2010.
Other part owners of the plant are UniSource Energy Corp, Tucson Electric, Southern California Public Power Authority, Tri-State Generation and Transmission, M-S-R Public Power Agency, City of Farmington, Los Alamos County, City of Anaheim and Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems.
