Denver Metro Emissions Reduction Project (MERP)

In 2003, we were one of the first utilities in the country to implement a voluntary emission reduction project. Under the $211 million initiative Colorado, we were able to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions by 70 percent after installing emission controls at three coal-fired generating stations, including Cherokee and Arapahoe stations in Denver and Valmont Station in Boulder, Colorado. This included installing lime spray dryers (also called "scrubbers") on three of the largest generating units, dry sodium injection systems on two smaller units and shutting down two of the smallest units.

The effort was so successful that we proposed and just finished implementing a similar metro emission reduction project in Minnesota.

Power Plant Changes Made Under the Denver Metro Emissions Reduction Project