Shiras Steam Plant demolition and decrease of emissions

MARQUETTE –The Shiras Steam Plant, a coal-fired power electric generating station owned and operated by the Marquette Board of Light and Power, was taken offline just under 2 years ago.

Marquette Board of Light and Power Executive Director, Tom Carpenter, says that demolition should begin within the next year. Since the steam plant was shut down, emissions and harmful toxins have been reduced at a record amount.

“Since we have transitioned away from Shiras and started operating in our Marquette Energy Center, the technology at the new plant has allowed us to be more flexible,” explained Tom Carpenter, Executive Director at Marquette Board of Light and Power. “It has allowed us to be clean and efficient with our units. We have also had a significant 95 plus percentages drop in many of our emissions. These include Sulfur Dioxide, Nitrogen Dioxide, Carbon Monoxide, and CO2. We have been able to save a lot of money while doing that.”

With the reduction of pollutants there has also been a reduction of over 17,000 tons of ash to the landfill per year as well. This not only keeps the environment clean but also keeping the air clear of pollutants.

“It is great,” said Carpenter. “It is one hundreds and hundreds of tons of pollutants that are not going out into the air.”

With the environmental impact of change in MBLP operations, it has substantially reduced pollutants while simultaneously lowering wholesale cost of supplying the energy needs in communities of Marquette.

“Currently we have the ability to dispatch our units in economically in the MISO Market and we are able to take advantage of ideal pricing on either side,” explained Carpenter. Whether that is buying or generating and when we do that, we are able to save a lot of money for the community.”

Reduction Percentages of emissions for 2019.