IMPA and its generating partners have always been at the forefront of technology designed to protect and preserve the environment while providing an economic and reliable power supply.

IMPA has invested nearly $100 million in environmental improvements to its generating facilities. IMPA’s two coal-fired generating units, Gibson 5 and Trimble County 1, both utilize precipitators to remove particulate matter and scrubbers to remove sulfur dioxide from plant emissions. In addition, the units use low nitrogen oxide burners to reduce NOx emissions. The Agency has installed Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) systems at the units to further reduce emissions.

While each of IMPA’s generating stations possesses state-of-the-art technology designed to limit emissions from the units, several generating plants go above and beyond environmental regulations to further protect and enhance the environment around them.

At Gibson Station in Southern Indiana, IMPA and its co-owners maintain a 2,950-acre man-made lake to provide cooling water to the plant. The lake offers recreational fishing opportunities to visitors and locals. Adjacent to the lake is the 463-acre Cane Ridge Wildlife Area, which includes a 60-acre nesting unit for the Interior Least Tern, a 193-acre moist soil management habitat, and a 173-acre area filled with 89,000 bottomland hardwood trees. Walking trails through the wildlife area provide visitors with the opportunity to view both waterfowl and other wildlife. The area has been recognized as being one of the most successful conservation efforts in the Midwest.

Trimble County Station in Northern Kentucky boasts its share of environmental improvements as well. IMPA and its co-owners at the station have set aside a 114-acre wildlife preserve, consisting of wetlands and forested areas. In cooperation with the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife and the Louisville Zoo, the station participates in the Peregrine Falcon Restoration program to provide nesting boxes on the plant’s stack. Over time, this successful program has helped to remove the peregrine falcon from the endangered species list. Trimble County Station also recycles fly ash, scrubber sludge and bottom ash, which are all byproducts of electric generation. The fly ash is used to produce a concrete mix that is sold to the construction industry. Gypsum is produced from scrubber sludge and used in the manufacture of wallboard for the home construction industry. And bottom ash is used to produce abrasives and roofing tiles.

As IMPA constructs its newest units, the Prairie State Energy Campus and Trimble County Unit 2, the Agency continues to keep the environment in mind by investing approximately $124 million in new state-of-the-art emissions control technologies that will limit emissions while generating low-cost, reliable electricity. Trimble County Unit 2 will employ low nitrogen oxide burners, an SCR system, a dry electrostatic precipitator, a wet sulfur dioxide scrubber and a wet electrostatic precipitator. The unit will also have the ability to accommodate a blend of different coals – a strategy that optimizes fuel costs and better manages emissions.

The Prairie State Energy Campus will utilize environmental technologies to achieve emissions that are one-fifth of the regulated rates for U.S. plants. The plant will utilize low nitrogen-oxide burners, SCR systems, dry electrostatic precipitators, wet sulfur dioxide scrubbers and wet electrostatic precipitators. When completed in 2012, Prairie State is expected to be among the cleanest coal plants in the United States.