By Brittney Hopper
Monday, November 23, 2009 at 6:26 p.m.
Read more: Local, State, Economy, Cleaner Energy, Colorado Springs Utilities, Payers, Customers, Sulfur, Power Plants, Neumann Systems Group, Martin Drake Power Plant, Colorado Springs
COLORADO SPRINGS, COLO -- Currently 40 percent of the population in Colorado Springs uses energy from the Martin Drake Power Plant. Just 20 miles south is the Dixon Power Plant and between these two plants, they provide 70 percent of energy.
New regulations from the Environmental Protection Agency are requiring power plants to provide cleaner energy.
“The purpose of what we are doing with this pilot is two-fold. One, is to save money for our customers and two, is to allow our emissions to be even cleaner than what they are now,” said Drew Rankin, Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU).
CSU and Neumann Systems Group have teamed up in testing a cutting-edge technology. If the new system is approved, it will remove 90 percent or more of the sulfur dioxide and would save $150 million for customers.
“It's important for our customers to know what we're doing to keep the electricity flowing to their house reliably and cost effective. It means keeping more money in your pocket and not our suppliers pocket and that's important to us and to our customers,” said Rankin.
If this new system gets approved, it's all being done locally, which will mean more jobs and more money coming into our local economy.
