Kentucky Coal Facts - 13th Edition - Department for Energy ...
Kentucky Coal Facts - 13th Edition - Department for Energy ...
Kentucky Coal Facts - 13th Edition - Department for Energy ...
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<strong>Kentucky</strong> Electric Power Emissions<br />
Emission Metric Tons Since 1990*<br />
Carbon Dioxide 86,155,120 29%<br />
Sulfur Dioxide 232,401 - 72%<br />
Nitrogen Oxides 73,900 - 75%<br />
Sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides are considered criteria pollutants, and<br />
their release is restricted by National Ambient Air Quality Standards set<br />
<strong>for</strong>th by the Environmental Protection Agency.<br />
Sulfur dioxide is a highly reactive gas and major pollutant<br />
that is monitored and regulated at the State and Federal<br />
level. In 2009, the Electric Power Sector of <strong>Kentucky</strong> emitted<br />
232,401 metric tons of sulfur dioxide, representing a 27<br />
percent decrease from 2008. Overall, the electric power<br />
sector of <strong>Kentucky</strong> has reduced sulfur dioxide emissions by<br />
72 percent since 1990.<br />
Nitrogen oxides are a group of highly reactive, regulated<br />
pollutants. In 2009, the electric power sector of <strong>Kentucky</strong><br />
emitted 73,900 metric tons of nitrogen oxides, representing<br />
a 49 percent decrease from 2008. Overall, the electric<br />
power sector of <strong>Kentucky</strong> has decreased nitrogen oxides<br />
emissions by 75 percent since 1990.<br />
Carbon Dioxide emissions from fossil fuel power plants are<br />
monitored at the State and Federal level. In 2009, the electric<br />
power sector of <strong>Kentucky</strong> emitted 86,155,120 metric<br />
tons of carbon dioxide, a decrease of 8 percent compared<br />
with 2008. Overall, power plants in <strong>Kentucky</strong> have increased<br />
carbon dioxide emissions by 29 percent since 1990.<br />
* The dual display of electricity generation and regulated emissions indicates that over time, though electricity demand and<br />
generation have increased, the release of targeted pollutants has actually decreased. There<strong>for</strong>e, both the aggregate emissions<br />
as well as intensity of emissions per gigawatt-hour of criteria pollutants, such as sulfur dioxide (SO2) and nitrogen oxides<br />
(NOx), have been decreasing in the Commonwealth since 1990. These reductions have been made through a combination of<br />
burning low sulfur coal, and the installation of SO2 Scrubbers and Select Catalytic Reduction (SCR) systems at coal-fired power<br />
plants in <strong>Kentucky</strong>.<br />
36<br />
energy.ky.gov<br />
kentuckycoal.com
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