We are actively improving air quality. Progress Energy is investing about $3 billion in state-of-the-art technologies that will reduce emissions at our power plants in the Carolinas and Florida. These investments will enable us to comply with new federal and state requirements to reduce nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO2) and mercury emissions from our coal-fired units. All of our power plants currently operate within the limits of their permits.

A new scrubber at the Asheville Plant means cleaner air for the mountains of North Carolina.

Here are our major emissions-reduction projects:

In the Carolinas

The Clean Smokestacks Act was enacted to reduce emissions from coal-fired power plants in the state. We have projected that we will spend approximately $1.4 billion by the end of 2013 to comply with the stringent targets of this landmark legislation.

• We have installed state-of-the-art "scrubbers" and selective catalytic reduction (SCR) systems, which will reduce emissions from these units of sulfur dioxide by approximately 90 percent and nitrogen oxides emissions by approximately 80 percent from 2004 levels. The technologies we install will also reduce mercury emissions by about 90 percent.
• Scrubbers, which reduce SO2 emissions, are installed on our largest coal fired units: Asheville, Roxboro and Mayo plant. 
• We have completed the installation of SCR systems for NOx control at both units at the Asheville Plant, all four units at the Roxboro Plant and on the one unit at the Mayo Plant.
• We have also installed Low NOx technologies on Lee Unit 2 and Sutton Unit 2, Lee Unit 3 and Cape Fear Units 5 and 6.

In Florida

We will invest more than $1.2 billion in clean-air technology through 2016.

• We are repowering our Bartow Power Plant in St. Petersburg to double its output and run on cleaner-burning and more efficient natural gas in combined cycle instead of fuel oil boilers.
• We are installing scrubbers and SCRs on our largest coal-fired units in Florida at Crystal River Units 4&5. These new environmental controls will reduce sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxide emissions by about 90 percent per year, and mercury emissions by about 80 percent per year from current levels at the two newest units at the Crystal River Energy Complex.
• We have an agreement with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to retire the coal-fired Crystal River Units 1 and 2 after the completion of the second new nuclear unit in Levy County, approximately 2020.

FAQs on Air Quality

How do I learn more about your air quality programs?

A detailed report of our air quality initiatives and other environmental programs can be found in our Corporate Responsibility Report. You may access the report by clicking here.

How do I find your emissions data?
Progress Energy reports its emissions annually to the U.S. EPA as part of the Toxics Release Inventory (TRI) program. Our company’s TRI data is available from the EPA and on our web site by clicking here.

How does a scrubber work?
As coal is burned in a power plant, it emits gases through the flue, or stack. Scrubbers work by taking this flue gas and passing it through a tower in which a water and limestone mixture is sprayed. The sulfur dioxide in the flue gas reacts with the limestone to produce gypsum, a useful additive to concrete or for the production of wallboard. The remaining water vapor rises from the stack.

How does an SCR work?
An SCR uses selective catalytic reduction to convert nitrogen oxides to nitrogen and water through a chemical reaction with ammonia. A similar type of SCR is a car's catalytic converter.

What visible changes can we see at the plant as a result of these improvements?
People who drive by or live near a plant with scrubbers can see a new, tall stack. The most noticeable change, however, is the visibility of water vapor rising from that stack.

Scrubbers work by spraying flue gas with a water and limestone mixture. The reaction produces gypsum, which is removed for other uses, and water vapor, which rises through the stack. In the past, there were barely visible emissions from the old stacks at the plant, but now people can see the water vapor. The visibility of the water vapor depends on the weather.

How large is the water vapor plume?
The size of the plume, which looks like a cloud, will depend on atmospheric conditions, particularly temperature and humidity. For example, cooler nighttime temperatures result in longer plumes.