Protecting the environment
“We strongly believe that government, academia and industry must continue to work together. We need to explore options so we can make intelligent, well-informed decisions as we move forward on the path to a smaller carbon footprint."
Brian Vaasjo, President and Chief Executive Officer, Capital Power Corporation
At Capital Power, we choose to keep our facilities well-maintained and to invest in research technologies for the future.
Capital Power:
• uses the best commercially available technology
• has an award-winning land reclamation program
• operates our facilities safely, efficiently and with good maintenance practices
Environmental Responsibility
Safely managing, operating and maintaining power generation facilities in a way that maximizes efficiency, productivity and reliability, while minimizing costs and reducing environmental impact, forms the basis of Capital Power’s operational strategy.
Capital Power is taking the following steps to a reduced environmental impact:
- Researching next-generation technologies through our support towards a Chair in Advanced Coal Cleaning and Combustion Technology at the University of Alberta’s Faculty of Engineering
- Comprehensive land-reclamation plan at the Genesee mine, including the re-establishment of wetlands and natural creek bodies, and the development of wildlife corridors
- Air monitoring program in the Wabamun-Genesee area, which includes the Stack Emissions Monitoring program, Acid Deposition program, Mercury Assessment program, and the Regional Ambient Air Quality program (in co-operation with the West Central Airshed Society)
- Bio-monitoring and wildlife monitoring programs
- Reclamation efforts, including planting 30 hectares of seedlings on reclaimed land, providing nesting boxes to increase bird populations, and supporting research to create forested areas as part of reclaimed mine lands
- Leading emission offset practices by developing expertise in the origination, purchase, and sale of verified emission offsets
- Installation of activated Carbon Injection (ACI) equipment in our Genesee facility to capture at least 70% of the natural mercury content found in coal
- Environmental enhancements to Roxboro and Southport facilities to reduce the amount of coal burned by 50%
- Sale of fly ash from our facilities to concrete companies across North America
- Undertaking environmental assessments to ensure projects can be developed in an environmentally sound manner
- Advanced coal plants, such as the Keephills 3 facility, which emits 24% less carbon dioxide per MW of power produced as compared to recently retired coal-fired power plants in Alberta
For full details about our initiatives, and for more information on our energy production and emissions, please review our Corporate Responsibility reports.
Last updated: June 19, 2012