In 2003, Great River Energy built an 85,000-ton fly ash storage dome at Coal Creek Station. |
Fly ash – a coal combustion product Fly ash is the lightweight, fine ash produced when coal is burned in power plants. Fly ash is used throughout the Upper Midwest to replace a portion of portland cement in concrete production, making the concrete more durable. Great River Energy markets the fly ash produced from its coal based power plants through Headwaters Resources. |
As a result of the increased use of fly ash, less land is disturbed for quarrying raw materials, less land is taken out of production for landfills, and less carbon dioxide is emitted into the atmosphere (to make cement). Using one ton of fly ash instead of portland cement reduces one ton of greenhouse gas emissions.
In 2008, 396,681 tons of fly ash were sold from Coal Creek Station. Notably, a high concentration of Coal Creek Station fly ash was used in the new Interstate 35W bridge in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Great River Energy used more than 2,000 tons of fly ash in the concrete within our headquarters building. Coal Creek fly ash also was used in EcoWorx polyolefin backing on the building’s carpeting.
Fly ash from Stanton Station is used to solidify liquid oil waste and for soil stabilization projects, which reduces the need for clay – another valuable natural resource. 29,568 tons of Stanton Station fly ash were sold in 2008.
C2P2Great River Energy is a partner in the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Coal Combustion Partnership Program (C2P2) which supports, encourages and promotes the utilization of coal combustion products.
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