OMAHA, Nebraska – The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) has again ranked Tenaska among the best electric power producers in the United States in controlling air emissions.
Tenaska ranks among the best of the 100 largest producers that use fossil fuels to generate electricity, the NRDC found in 2010 benchmarking studies, released in June in a new report, “Benchmarking Air Emissions.” The study examined emissions in 2008 of carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxides (NOX) and sulfur dioxide (SO2).
Tenaska power plants achieved a top ranking by emitting only 50 percent of the U.S. fossil fuel plant average CO2 emissions, 8.5 percent of the average NOX emissions and just a 10th of 1 percent of average SO2 emissions. The latest findings for Tenaska are similar to those in the NRDC’s previous study, which was based on 2006 emission results.
“We are very pleased that the NRDC’s study once again confirms Tenaska’s standing as one of the nation’s most environmentally advanced producers of electricity,” said Greg Kunkel, Tenaska vice president-Environmental Affairs. “These results demonstrate our dedication to clean energy generation.”
Tenaska, one of the largest independent power producers in the United States, has developed about 9,000 megawatts (MW) of natural gas-fueled electric generating capacity across the U.S. Tenaska affiliates currently operate and manage 17 power plants totaling more than 12,000 MW.
The company also is pioneering efforts to greatly reduce emissions of CO2 from coal-fueled power plants. It is developing two cutting-edge plants, the Trailblazer Energy Center in West Texas and the Taylorville Energy Center in Illinois. Trailblazer will be among the world’s first conventional coal-fueled commercial scale plants to capture 85 to 90 percent of its CO2 emissions and provide for their geologic storage through enhanced oil recovery. Taylorville, an integrated gasification combined-cycle plant, will capture more than 50 percent of the CO2 and provide for its geologic storage.
About Tenaska
Tenaska, based in Omaha, Neb., is one of the leading independent power producers in the U.S., with regional offices in Dallas, Denver and Calgary. Tenaska has developed approximately 9,000 megawatts (MW) of power generation. Affiliates manage and operate eight power plants totaling 6,700 MW that Tenaska owns in partnership with other companies. Tenaska also provides energy risk management services and is involved in asset acquisition and management, power marketing, fuel supply, natural gas exploration, production and transportation systems, biofuels marketing and electric transmission development. Tenaska Capital Management, an affiliate, provides management services for standalone private equity investments, with more than $5 billion in assets, including nine power plants and multiple natural gas midstream assets, including gas storage, gathering and processing facilities. In 2009, Tenaska and its affiliates managed approximately 34,000 MW of assets on behalf of a variety of customers and private equity investors. An affiliate, Tenaska Marketing Ventures, is regarded as one of the top 10 natural gas marketers in North America, and provides natural gas commodity, volume management, hedging and asset management products and services. Another affiliate, Tenaska Power Services Co., specializes in physical power marketing and electric asset management for utilities and non-utility generators, and is one of the largest marketers of physical power in the United States. For more information about Tenaska, visit the company’s Web site at www.tenaska.com.