Environmental Issues

"Green" Energy: To inform users of the improved emissions and the greenhouse gas commitment of the Power Plant.

The MSU Power Plant is working toward a greener way to produce energy and improve emissions. For several months people at the MSU Power Plant have been studying the possibilities of a new biomass fuel facility with a company that has previously built these new facilities, N-Viro. The idea of using a biomass fuel is to use existing technology to sanitize municipal bio solids and various organic waste products and then converting these waste products into reusable products.

There are a number of plants in the United States which N-Viro has opened, but not one that does the entire process. N-Viro has been negotiating with Michigan State University to build the first fully functioning biomass fuel plant on Michigan State's campus adjacent to the current T.B. Simon Power Plant. By placing this facility on Michigan State's campus it would provide an alternative energy source to work collaboratively with the co-existing coal burning facility. This will in turn create a cleaner, more eco-friendly energy provider.

Air emissions

Reports on the air emissions from the MSU Power Plant are available at the Department of Environmental Quality's website. The DEQ uses the Michigan Air Emissions Reporting System (MAERS) for its reporting. For a listing of the power plant emissions reports going back to 1999, click here.

Chicago Climate Exchange

In November 2006, Michigan State joined the Chicago Climate Exchange (also known as CCX) which is North America's only, and the world's first, greenhouse gas emission registry, reduction, and trading system for all six greenhouse gasses (carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons and sulphur hexafluoride). This membership directly impacts the T.B. Simon Power Plant as it underscores a commitment to a 6 percent reduction below baseline year 2000 levels of greenhouse gas emissions by 2010.

To help meet these requirements, the T.B. Simon Power Plant is becoming greener. Whereas coal had been the sole source of energy, alternative fuels are now gaining use in the boilers. Alternative fuels tested there include cornstarch packing materials and a patented biomass fuel that has physical and chemical characteristics similar to coal-created from municipal bio-solids and farm animal manure. Yes, manure. No bull!