CLEARFIELD – The Clearfield County Commissioners released a statement concerning a recent meeting they had with members of RRI.
The statement reads as follows:
“Recently, the Clearfield County Commissioners visited RRI Energy’s Shawville Generating Station to meet with Plant Manager Murray Kohan and, via teleconference, Derek Furstenwerth, director Environmental, Houston TX, and Tom Teitt, director Water and Waste Water, Canonsburg, PA. The agenda for the meeting was to discuss the future of Shawville Generating Station and to discuss recent newspaper articles concerning water discharge to the West Branch of the Susquehanna River.
“The positive news that came out of the meeting is RRI Energy’s commitment to continue with upgrades to the facility to keep it a viable energy producing plant for many years to come. This year, a major upgrade to reduce mercury emission through new technology by injecting activated carbon into the gas stream is underway. RRI Energy is installing and operating this control equipment voluntarily, despite the fact that there is no national or Commonwealth regulation requiring such controls at this time.
“In addition, a permanent system to reduce nitrogen oxide emissions is being installed to replace the seasonal temporary systems. The technology employed to accomplish this task is to inject aqueous ammonia (UREA) into the fireball of each boiler. The project’s costs will total approximately $20 million. There is also ongoing conceptual engineering work to address other environmental issues including water discharge into the West Branch of the Susquehanna River.
“With RRI Energy’s ongoing commitment to upgrade its Shawville Generating Station, the citizens and businesses in Clearfield County who rely on the facility for employment and economic reasons can rest assured that the facility will be in operation for many years to come.
“County Commissioners Joan Robinson-McMillen, John Sobel and Mark McCracken stated “As county commissioners, we recognize the positive impact Shawville Generating Station has on our local economy. Not only are there a number of family-sustaining jobs at the plant, but also there are many spin-off jobs provided to our local coal and trucking industries. All these jobs are important to Clearfield county and we are working diligently to retain these jobs while improving our environment.
“The continuing operation of Shawville Generating Station fits with the long range economic development plans for Clearfield county to be a production hub for traditional and alternative energy sources. The Shawville Generating Station along with the soon to open Bionol Ethanol Refinery and future construction of the River Hill Power Plant in Karthaus, will give Clearfield county recognition as a leading domestic energy producer for the northeastern United States.”
On Tuesday McMillen said the commissioners wanted to put any misconceptions to rest that the commissioners wanted to close Shawville Power Plant.
“The commissioners never wished to to close Shawville Power Plant,” said McMillen.
McMillen said the power plant has been a valuable part of Clearfield County’s economy in the past and will continue to be so in the future.
