If you live near the river in St. Paul, you may have notice the huge clouds of steam. They are coming from the new Xcel energy energy plant. The steam is generated by a gas powered combustion turbine. The stacks seem to emit and almost clear yellowish cloud. The new plant replaces the coal burning plant. 
Our heating bills are higher but at least the coal piles are gone, and maybe the air is cleaner too. If you read the Xcel energy web site it looks like the coal plant was environmental friendly:
"Environmental Highlights: The plant’s use of western coal limits sulfur emissions and High Bridge employs electrostatic precipitators that trap ash particles before they go up the stack. Precipitators act on the principle of static electricity attracting dust. In this case, the dust is fly ash particles. Fly ash in exhaust gases passes through an electric field, where the particles receive a negative charge. Positively charged plates attract and collect the negatively charged ash particles. Almost all of the ash that’s captured is used for construction purposes in concrete and road base material."
According to the web site for the new plant:
"The new unit will operate more cleanly and efficiently than the existing coal-powered units. As a result, air emissions will be significantly reduced: sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and particulate matter will be reduced by more than 90 percent, while mercury will be completely eliminated "
Mercury?
The old plant is slated for demolition in June. Please see "Save the Stack"
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It does make for a bit of a hazard on Shepard Road at times. But yes, natural gas is much cleaner, and doesn’t have the mercury, cadmium, and many other heavy metals that you find in coal.
Of course, it’s in much shorter supply on this continent, but that’s something we’ll deal with … eventually.
Does anyone know the latest plan for using the space where the old plant is now? The picture on their site looks like it is empty green space, but I don’t know if that is the final choice.
Stpualgirl – yes they are talking green space. I would like to see the stack left where it is and there are some that think the plant should be preserved. As always there is not a lot of communication between the city and those of us who live here and pay the bills so when I get an update I’ll post it.
Erik – the current energy situation is truly frightening. There is more coal on the planet than natural gas, but yes the gas is cleaner.
With the strong winds we have been having the steam cloud blows all the way to my house and yes it does make it hard to see down on the roads on a cold day.
AOA to alls
It is a good post and really like it.Factories made distance of city because it is damage for our health.