(Source: Business Wire)
HEADWATERS RESOURCES -- America's largest manager and marketer of coal combustion products -- is completing the conversion of a wet-handled coal ash facility to a dry ash operation in Monroe, Michigan. The conversion to dry handling is designed to collect the coal ash before it is placed in a disposal impoundment and to make it available for safe and environmentally beneficial use in the production of concrete.
"Converting wet ash handling systems to dry handling is increasing as an important coal ash management strategy," said Mike Adams, vice president of Headwaters Resources. "Regulatory changes on the horizon are expected to make conversions like this one even more desirable."
The wet-to-dry conversion project under way in Michigan is located at Detroit Edison's Monroe Power Plant -- a four unit, 3,200-megawatt power station originally constructed in 1974.
The dry collection equipment is being installed in two phases. The first phase is scheduled to be completed July 15 and includes installation of equipment to collect the coal ash produced in Units 1 and 2 in a dry state, a 4,000-ton storage facility, and truck/rail loading equipment for distribution to concrete producers in the Midwest United States and Eastern Canada. Headwaters Resources is providing $10 million in financing for the project.
The second phase of the project is scheduled to begin in 2011 or 2012 and plans include equipment to collect Units 3 and 4 and an additional 4,000-ton storage silo. When completed, Headwaters Resources estimates that it will collect 400,000 tons of coal ash annually that has previously been placed in the on-site impoundment and anticipates safe re-use of the fly ash in the production of concrete and concrete products.
"Utilizing coal ash in concrete has numerous performance and environmental benefits," said Adams. "Concrete made with fly ash is stronger and more durable than concrete made with cement alone. In addition to reducing the amount of material going to landfills, coal ash utilization also allows concrete producers to use less cement. Not producing that cement conserves natural resources and reduces greenhouse gas emissions from cement production to the tune of up to 15 million tons last year alone in the United States."
This is one of many projects Headwaters Resources has undertaken to collect and beneficially use coal ash that was previously disposed. With on-going projects at 103 utility locations and approximately 20 million tons of coal combustion products under management annually, Headwaters Resources is the largest manager of coal ash resources in the United States.
