Bow, NH March 11, 2009****Public Service of New Hampshire has received the approvals necessary to begin major construction of a mercury emission reduction system at Merrimack Station, the company’s largest power generation facility. The “Clean Air Project” is moving from a design, engineering and permitting phase to one of heavy construction.
“The pace is beginning to pick up,” noted Michael Hitchko, PSNH Project Manager. “We have worked over the winter to receive the necessary approvals and to prepare the site for major construction. We have many additional workers who are ready and eager to get started.”
The Clean Air Project at Merrimack Station is the installation of “scrubber” technology in order to reduce emissions of mercury. The installation is required by state law and will also result in a substantial reduction of sulfur dioxide emissions at the plant.
Necessary Permits Issued – The N.H. Department of Environmental Services and the Town of Bow have recently issued the Clean Air Project permits that are required in order to begin heavy construction. (See NH DES press release: http://bit.ly/8V3ww .) With the permits in hand, work on key elements of the project will begin in March, including foundations upon which the new chimney stack and the scrubber itself will be built. About 300 construction workers are expected to be directly focused on the Clean Air Project during the three-year construction window.
Additional details about the project are available at psnhnews.com