CLINTON, IOWA – January 3, 2014 – Alliant Energy’s Iowa and Minnesota utility announced today that it plans to convert the fuel source of the M.L. Kapp Generating Station in Clinton, Iowa from coal to natural gas in the spring of 2015.
“We’re working to make our environment cleaner and this is a step in our plan to reduce emissions while managing costs for our customers,” said Tom Aller, President of Alliant Energy’s Iowa and Minnesota utility.
The move is anticipated to reduce the facility’s total nitrogen oxide, particulate, mercury and carbon dioxide emissions while nearly eliminating sulfur dioxide emissions. The fuel switch is an economical way for the M.L. Kapp facility to meet future environmental regulations and provide customers with economic energy.
“We have an excellent team at M.L. Kapp,” added John Larsen, Senior Vice President of Generation for Alliant Energy. “They have a strong record of reliability and they are leaders in safety. We’ll use employee retirements, attrition and other employment opportunities within our company to minimize the impacts on our employees following the conversion.”
M.L. Kapp will be the fourth generating facility in Alliant Energy’s Iowa and Minnesota service territory to switch from coal to natural gas. Through planned and completed fuel-switching, retirements, and the installation of air quality control systems, the utility estimates the following progress toward cleaner emissions from its fleet by the end of 2016:
· Mercury reduced by 84%,
· Sulfur dioxide reduced by 72%,
· Filterable particulate matter reduced by 34% and
· Nitrogen oxide reduced by 22%.
