New Clean Coal Technology | Video

Jennifer Joas | 10/15/2012

There`s an 800 year supply of coal in North Dakota. But with the EPA continually making more regulations, it`s forcing power plants to spend a lot of money for upgrades or shut down. The Milton R. Young Station in Center is the first in the nation to invest in a new clean coal technology in anticipation of future regulations.

It already coughed up $450 million in environmental upgrades to meet regional haze requirements. Now, the Milton R. Young Station has invested in CyClean Technology to reduce emissions.

"Initially we were very nervous. Not skeptical, but concerned about what are the long term ramifications. We`ve been able to we think demonstrate in the last several months that we can do this cost effectively and we can do it safely for our other equipment," said Minnkota President and CEO Mac McLennan.

There are two buildings that hold the solid and the liquid materials. They go up into a black conveyer belt, drop onto the coal, and help the plant produce with less emissions.

"It`s a very volatile related coal in terms of certain constituents. So NOx will remain an issue or concern for us as we go forward. And then on the horizon, the bigger challenge is what do you do with carbon dioxide," McLennan said.

McLennan expects EPA requirements to continue changing and creating more challenges, but Governor Jack Dalrymple say`s he`s happy coal plants in the state are doing their best to comply.

"This is not just one more form of energy on a long list of other sources of energy," he said. "This is a real base supply for our whole country. And the notion that we would just do without I think is really misguided."

Since the program has been a success, Minnkota Power plans to continuing using CyClean Technology in the future.

The CyClean Technology is also more efficient and cost effective compared what it would cost for other plant upgrades. Minnkota Power executives expect other plants to begin using this technology.

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