Air Quality
Dominion’s environmental investment program began in the 1990s and has produced significant improvements in air quality – with more benefits still to come.
Since 1998, we have made major strides in reducing the environmental footprint of our generating fleet. By 2015, we will have achieved the following improvements:
- sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions will have been reduced system-wide by an average of 88 percent;
- nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions will have declined by 84 percent; and
- mercury emissions will have fallen by 89 percent.
By 2020, when all of EPA’s new rules will be in effect, we expect even greater emissions reduction totals:
- 91 percent for mercury and sulfur dioxide; and
- 84 percent for nitrogen oxides.
Tools
Environment
Cleaner Air from New Equipment at Chesterfield Power Station
On June 30, 2011, Dominion dedicated a new anti-pollution system at Chesterfield Power Station. The flue-gas desulfurization system, called a "scrubber," removes more than 95% of sulfur dioxide and an 80% reduction in hydrochloric and sulfuric acids. With the scrubber in operation, the unit obtains an 80% reduction in mercury.