For Immediate
Release
Powerspan to Move Multi-Pollutant
Control Demonstration at FirstEnergy
New Durham, NH - November 30, 2001Powerspan
Corp. and FirstEnergy Corp. announced today that they are moving
the commercial scale demonstration of multi-pollutant control
technology from FirstEnergy's Eastlake Plant in Eastlake, Ohio,
to FirstEnergy's R.E. Burger Plant in Shadyside, Ohio. FirstEnergy
announced yesterday that it had reached an agreement to sell the
Eastlake Plant to NRG Energy, Inc. along with three other coal-fired
power plants.
Powerspan and FirstEnergy will construct
the 50-megawatt ECOTM commercial demonstration unit at the R.E.
Burger Plant where Powerspan has successfully tested the ECO technology
in a 2-megawatt pilot unit. Powerspan expects to begin operation
of the commercial demonstration by the end of 2002. Successful
completion of the demonstration will lead to the deployment of
full-scale, commercial ECO systems.
"We welcome the move of the ECO
commercial demonstration project to the R.E. Burger Plant,"
said Powerspan chairman and CEO Frank Alix. "Having both
the pilot and the commercial demonstration at the same site will
allow us to manage ECO development more efficiently. It's also
fortunate that we can continue working closely with the Burger
Plant personnel and the local trades people who have supported
us so well in the past."
"We are pleased to continue supporting
this important technology," said FirstEnergy's environmental
director, Dan Steen. "Our staff at the Burger Plant looks
forward to expanding their role in ECO's commercial demonstration."
The commercial demonstration project is being
co-funded by a $3.5 million grant from the Ohio Coal Development
Office within the Ohio Department of Development. In addition,
the U.S. Department of Energy recently awarded Powerspan a $2.25
million grant to optimize the mercury removal capability of ECO
technology.
Powerspan's ECO technology is a cost-effective, multi-pollutant
control process designed to reduce smokestack emissions of sulfur
dioxide, nitrogen oxides, mercury, and fine particulate matter
from coal-fired power plants.
Powerspan Corp. is engaged in the development
and commercialization of proprietary energy technology for the
global electric power industry. Company research and development
efforts focus on unique applications of its technology to improve
the efficiency and reduce the environmental impact of power generation.
More information can be obtained at www.powerspan.com.
FirstEnergy is a registered public utility
holding company headquartered in Akron, Ohio. Its various subsidiaries
produce more than $12 billion in annual revenues and sell 124
billion kilowatt-hours of electricity. Other FirstEnergy affiliates
are involved in the exploration and production of oil and natural
gas, marketing of natural gas, and energy-related services. FirstEnergy's
seven electric utility operating companies comprise the nation's
fourth largest investor-owned electric system, based on serving
4.3 million customers within a 32,100-square-mile area that stretches
from the Ohio-Indiana border to the New Jersey shore.
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Contact:
Powerspan Corp.
Stephanie Procopis, Director of Marketing
Phone: (603) 859-2500, ext. 20
Fax: (603) 859-2501
Email: sprocopis@powerspan.com
www.powerspan.com