Environmental Equipment Investments

Major projects at Dairyland’s two largest power plants are benefitting regional air quality

Major environmental equipment installations at Dairyland’s coal-fired power plants include the "baghouse" pictured in the foreground of this photograph of the JPM plant site. Baghouses at the Genoa and JPM plants remove particulate matter.

Dairyland is in the process of retrofitting its Genoa #3 (G-3) and John P. Madgett (JPM) power plants with state-of-the-art environmental control equipment to achieve significant air emission reductions. The G-3 coal-fired plant is located in Genoa, Wis. The JPM coal-fired plant is located in Alma, Wis.

Dairyland is investing approximately $400 million for emission control work. Installation of fabric filter “baghouses” to remove particulate matter from the exhaust gas stream at both the G-3 and JPM power plants has resulted in major reductions in fine particulate matter. The new baghouses are in addition to the existing, highly efficient, electrostatic precipitator particulate matter control equipment.

A semi-dry flue gas desulfurization system, or “scrubber,” is nearing completion at the G-3 power plant. This technology is a sorbent injection system, which sprays a limestone liquid into a chamber between the boiler and fabric filter baghouse, and is designed to remove sulfur dioxide. The limestone reagent absorbs sulfur dioxide and other acid gases in the hot gas stream. The injection of the lime slurry also cools the flue gas, thereby drying the reagent so it can be collected in the baghouse.

Installation of a scrubber is also planned for the JPM plant. Further installations of new technologies designed to reduce nitrogen oxide are proceeding at the JPM plant while mercury emissions controls are proceeding at both facilities.

The end result of the new air emission control equipment will be the significant reduction of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, mercury and particulate matter in our region.

Click here for background information on the JPM power plant.

Click here for background information on the G-3 power plant.