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What’s a scrubber?
Scrubbers are environmental controls that remove a large percentage of the sulfur dioxide from the emissions of coal-fired power plants.
The scrubbers at the Montour plant work by spraying a mixture of crushed limestone and water onto the exhaust gas before it goes out the plant’s chimney. The limestone and water react with the sulfur in the plant’s exhaust to form synthetic gypsum, which is collected and shipped to a drywall manufacturing facility across the road from the power plant, which has created dozens of local jobs.
Scrubbers remove more than 100,000 tons of sulfur dioxide, nearly all produced by the plant, every year from emissions at Montour. As a co-benefit, the scrubbers also reduce mercury and other materials — contributing to significant improvements in environmental performance.
The scrubbers and other environmental improvements at the Montour plant as well as PPL’s Brunner Island power plant in York County represent a combined $1.6 billion voluntary investment by PPL in environmental upgrades for its coal-fired power plants. The improved air quality enables PPL’s coal-fired plants to operate for many years to come.
The scrubbers continue the progress PPL has made in reducing emissions of sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides from its power plants over the past two decades.
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| A mixture of water and limestone is sprayed into this tank onto exhaust gases produced from burning coal. This photo was taken shortly before the scrubbers began to operate. |
Learn more about power plant operations. | | 
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Learn how to journal through nature
A glorious day spent in nature can inspire the deepest, most poetic thoughts. But often putting those thoughts onto paper can be both intimidating and frustrating. Learn how to capture nature’s inspiration through journaling from 1:30-3 p.m. Saturday, June 18 at PPL’s Montour Environmental Preserve.
Nancy Bishop of PPL draws on her many years of experience as a reporter, writer and editor to help demonstrate ways to make that process easier and more fun. After a brief discussion on technique, we will go for a stroll along one of the preserve’s trails looking for inspiration as we walk. Bring a pen or pencil and a notebook.
Get the buzz on beekeeping
Ever consider becoming a residential beekeeper? Take this opportunity to learn how during this “Bee-ginner Beekeeping” workshop from 6:30-8 p.m. Tuesday, June 21 at PPL’s Montour Environmental Preserve.
As part of the 2011 Pollinator Week events hosted by the Montour County Penn State Master Gardener Pollinator Friendly Garden Committee, Brushy Mountain Bee Farms of New Columbia will teach us how we can raise bees in our own back yard and show us everything we need to begin beekeeping. Increase the yield in your vegetable gardens, enjoy more blooms in your flower beds, relax in the shade of your pollinated trees while enjoying your favorite foods and beverages made with freshly harvested honey. And most importantly—help the bees thrive.
This free program will take place at the Environmental Education Center. For directions, please visit www.pplpreserves.com, click on “Montour” then select “Directions.” For more information or to register, contact the preserve at 570-437-3131 or jdbeam@pplweb.com.
As a corporation, and as individuals, we understand our responsibility to do the right thing. Read PPL's Corporate Responsibility Report. | |
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Montour moves up in ranking for heat rate performance among U.S. coal plants
PPL’s Montour coal-fired power plant moved up three spots as part of a top 20 national ranking of power plant efficiency published by Electric Light & Power magazine.
According to the magazine’s report, Montour placed 12th for 2010, up from 15th in 2009, among the nation’s coal-fired plants for heat rate performance, a measure of how efficiently the plant uses its fuel.
"Our ranking is a reflection of the hard work our employees do every day to maintain safe, reliable operations," said Michael Munroe, plant manager. "As with employees at PPL’s other power plants, we take pride in setting high standards for operational excellence and helping everyone stay safe."
Heat rate is a measure of the fuel energy needed to produce 1 kilowatt-hour of electricity. Montour’s heat rate in 2010 was 9,497 BTUs per kilowatt-hour. The cumulative heat rate among the top 20 plants was better in 2010 than in 2009 — 9,414 compared with 9,615. Efficient plants use less fuel energy to generate electricity, and so have lower heat rate numbers.
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Montour’s safety initiatives earn plant national safety recertification
Employee-led safety initiatives at PPL’s Montour power plant in north-central Pennsylvania have led to its recertification as a VPP Star facility.
As part of the VPP Star program, certified facilities must show continuous improvement on an annual basis and have a recertification audit every three to five years. VPP is a national program, administered by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration, that recognizes work sites whose safety policies exceed federal requirements.
The OSHA team conducting the recertification audit recognized the best practices and safety improvements demonstrated by Montour employees. They included annual self-evaluations, annual safety fairs, combustible dust management program, ergonomic evaluations, training matrix and energy control practices with contractors.
"It’s an honor to be recognized for setting high standards and fostering employee-led programs that protect our greatest asset: our people," said John Tripoli, safety, health and environmental compliance manager for the Montour plant. "We’re proud to be able to fly the VPP Star flag for another five years."
OSHA conducted a rigorous technical inspection as part of the recertification, assigning a full-time inspector to look at the handling of anhydrous ammonia and several others spending time looking at other compliance areas.
Montour first achieved VPP Star status in 2002, and received its first three-year recertification in 2005. The plant is now on a five-year recertification schedule.
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Montour plant presents second installment toward new Washingtonville Fire Company rescue vehicle
The Montour power plant recently presented a check for $10,000 to the Washingtonville Volunteer Fire Company, the second installment of a $30,000 pledge to help offset the $164,000 cost of a new light-duty rescue vehicle.
"Washingtonville Volunteer Fire Company is a trusted and valued community resource, providing around-the-clock fire, rescue and quick response medical service for families and businesses throughout Montour County," said Michael Munroe, manager of PPL’s Montour power plant.
"It’s reassuring to know that we have dedicated volunteers ready to help protect communities in Montour County and respond to the needs of businesses such as the Montour power plant," he said. "The fire company’s well-trained volunteers also help us practice our plant’s emergency plan, which is an invaluable service that helps us prepare and keep our facility and employees safe."
PPL Montour’s third installment toward the new truck will be made next year, Munroe said. The donation is in addition to the amount PPL contributes annually to the Washingtonville Volunteer Fire Company to offset building expenses.
"We appreciate the generous donation from PPL that will significantly boost the contributions we’ve received from our other faithful community members," said Gary Roberts, fire chief for the Washingtonville Fire Company. "PPL’s contribution is another reminder of their continued support of community organizations like ours."
PPL Montour made its first $10,000 donation last September toward the new truck, which replaced a similar vehicle in use since the early 1980s. Designed for fire support, auto extraction, and residential and commercial emergencies, the four-wheel-drive, light-duty rescue truck can hold a five-person crew, carries medical and rescue equipment such as rope and hydraulic equipment, and pulls a rescue boat that was recently donated by PPL.
Founded nearly 70 years ago, the Washingtonville Volunteer Fire Company has about 500 members including active firefighters, support volunteers and social members. It serves Washingtonville Borough and Derry, Anthony, Limestone and West Hemlock townships. |
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The overall safe, reliable and efficient operation of PPL’s Montour plant is in the hands of Plant Manager Michael Munroe.
The most valuable asset he manages is not the plant itself, but the experienced workforce that is committed to performing the high quality work needed to operate the plant safely and reliably.
Before coming to PPL in 2006, he held various management positions at Progress Energy’s nuclear power plant in North Carolina and at coal-fired and nuclear power plants owned by the Tennessee Valley Authority.
He served as an officer in the U.S. Navy for 10 years, from 1983 to 1993. He holds a bachelor’s degree in engineering from the University of Michigan and a master’s degree in engineering management from Northwestern University.
He lives in Scott Township, Columbia County.
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