|
TRIGEN
ENERGY CORPORATION
 Overview
Trigen Energy Corporation develops, operates and owns community
energy systems and co-generation facilities — at 51 energy plants
at 36 locations in the United States and Canada. Suez Lyonnaise Des Eaux
acquired the company in 2000. Thermal energy accounted for 78% of 1999
revenues; electric energy, 16% and fees earned and other, 6%.
Trigen in Syracuse
Trigen-Syracuse Energy Corporation is located the town of Geddes — very
near the shores of Onondaga Lake. The plant has five coal fired boilers,
two of which have been modified to burn a paper/plastic mix for supplemental
fuel. Even though the facility is one of Central New York’s largest
air polluters, one that produced 600,000 pounds of toxic hydrochloric
acid gas in 2003 — a main factor in acid rain — US Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) has determined that none of the boilers are
subject to the Acid Rain Program under the Clean Air Act.
Each boiler generates steam used first for the production of electricity,
then for the production of sodium sulfite, cardboard, kraft paper (a
thick, brown paper not unlike paper used to make paper bags), and heating
the building. All five boilers were made in either the 1940s or 1960s,
but Trigen-Syracuse did not start producing electricity for sale until
1991. Currently, Trigen-Syracuse sells its power primarily through the
New York Independent System Operator.
“Central New York’s largest air polluter
is allowed to pump out unlimited amounts of hazardous air pollution,
taking advantage of a loophole for power plants.”
|
|
