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Tampa Electric: Continuing a Long History of Environmental Protection

Tampa Electric has a long history of anticipating environmental trends and regulations, working collaboratively with environmental regulators and complying with or exceeding environmental policies.

In 1998, Tampa Electric stepped forward and became the first utility in the nation to agree to a massive emissions reduction program with the U.S Environmental Protection Agency and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. In doing so, the company avoided significant legal battles, installed pollution control equipment at substantially lower costs, improved system reliability, and forged a path of environmental leadership.

By 2010, while demand for electricity has continued to climb, Tampa Electric will have dramatically reduced its emissions from 1998 levels:

Emissions	12/31/06 Reduction	Original 2010 Reduction Projections
Sulfur Dioxide (S02)	91%	89%
Nitrogen Oxide (NOx)	59% (will be 89% by 2010)	89%
Particulate Matter (PM)	75%	72%
Mercury (Hg)	74%	73%
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)	20%	20%

                                                                  
For SO₂, PM and Hg, Tampa Electric has already surpassed its original projections, as of December 2006.

Specific Projects Associated with the $1.2-Billion Environmental Improvement Program Include:

• Re-powering of a 1950s-era coal-fired power station to natural gas (Bayside).
• Best Available Control Technology:
  • Optimization of flue gas desulfurization or “scrubber” technology on an additional coal-fired power station (Big Bend) to control SO₂ emissions.
  • Installation of selective catalytic reduction or SCR technology to an additional coal-fired power station (Big Bend) to control NO_x emissions.
  • The above controls and actions also greatly reduced CO₂ and Hg emissions.

The company is also the world leader in the production of electricity from integrated gasification combined cycle technology at its Polk Power Station, named the cleanest coal-fired power plant in North America by a research foundation that surveyed more than 400 facilities.

Tampa Electric made these changes while balancing the need for environmental improvements with the need to provide customers with affordable and reliable electricity. The company did not seek a base rate increase to complete these projects, and in fact has not had a base rate increase in more than 14 years. (www.tampaelectric.com)