Environmental Protection Agency recognizes Great River Energy with outstanding achievement award
Underwood, ND (May 13, 2005) - The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently recognized Great River Energy with an outstanding achievement award for its work with coal combustion products.
Great River Energy received first place in the environmental achievement category in the 2005 Coal Combustion Products Partnership (C2P2) awards.
C2P2 is a cooperative effort between the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the American Coal Ash Association, the Utility Solid Waste Activities Group and the U.S. Department of Energy in which partners work to meet national waste and recycling goals.
Last year, Great River Energy marketed about 400,000 tons of fly ash from Coal Creek Station. Sales have increased steadily since 1996 when 90,000 tons were marketed. Much of the fly ash from Coal Creek Station is used in conjunction with cement to make concrete that is stronger and more durable than concrete made with cement alone.
“We are honored to be recognized for our innovative efforts to utilize coal byproducts,” says Al Christianson, Great River Energy’s North Dakota business services representative. “Awards like this recognize our commitment to developing new uses for coal combustion products.”
Great River Energy has also realized a number of environmental benefits from using fly ash. One is a significant reduction of fly ash being stored in a landfill. Another is a reduction of over 400,000 tons of greenhouse gases in 2004 (as a result of using fly ash as a cement replacement).
“We’re very pleased to receive this recognition from the Environmental Protection Agency. The positive results we have experienced are a “win-win” for both Great River Energy and the environment. Such efforts will continue as we find more beneficial uses for fly ash,” says Diane Stockdill, regulatory services, environmental coordinator, Coal Creek Station.
One new beneficial use that fly ash will be used in is FlexCrete, an aerated concrete. Great River Energy will provide FlexCrete for the construction of the proposed National Energy Technology Training and Education Center at Bismarck State College.
The EPA handed out nine other awards including:
Great River Energy (www.greatriverenergy.com) is a generation and transmission cooperative providing wholesale electric energy and related services to 28 distribution cooperatives in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
