The employees of Morgantown have a fervent respect for their closest neighbor, the 380-mile Potomac River, and it shows in their work both inside and outside the plant.
The facility faces a delicate challenge: to help provide for the power requirements of five million electricity consumers, while minimizing impact on the surrounding watershed. But through a combination of technological enhancements and good old-fashioned grassroots initiative, employees are meeting that challenge. For example, the Morgantown station voluntarily installed electrostatic precipitators, nearly eradicating flyash with a 99.5% reduction. The plant also collects and treats runoff and wastewater, protecting the Potomac River from contamination.
Morgantown is ISO 14001:2004 certified, which means it meets a widely accepted international standard for environmentally responsible operation.
Environmental Technologies
Nitrogen Oxide (NOx) Controls
- Selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system to reduce NOx
- Boilers equipped with low-NOx burners with separated over-fire air (SOFA) technology; retrofits installed in 1994–1995
Sulfur Dioxide (SO2) Controls
- Flue gas desulfurization (scrubbers) to reduce (SO2) being installed; to be operable by 2010
Mercury Controls
- Mercury reduced through the use of scrubbers
Other Controls
- Stack monitoring equipment for opacity, carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), SO2 and NOx
- All fuel tanks and equipment surrounded by dikes, concrete spillways, and hydrocarbon detectors
- Coal pile liner installed to protect against groundwater contamination
Community Outreach
Making a House a Home
Morgantown employees helped collect a houseful of furniture for a struggling family with two special needs children. Employees donated what they had on hand and rallied support from a local church for more contributions.
Wildlife Adventure Day
During Memorial Day Weekend, Morgantown employees team up with their Chalk Point and Piney Point Pipeline colleagues to host Wildlife Adventure Day. The annual event teaches youth about environmental conservation practices, and features demonstrations from local wildlife experts.
Lower Potomac Tributary Team Wade In
Morgantown employees were up to their knees in choppy river water, as they took part in the 8th annual Lower Potomac Tributary Team Wade In. For the past several years Morgantown has hosted the event, also known as the Sneaker Index, where participants wade into the river and measure the point at which they can no longer see their white sneakers.
Other Outreach Activities
- Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay
- Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Southern Maryland
- Clean Air Partners
- La Plata High School Science Fair
- Living Classrooms of National Capitol Region
- Oyster Recovery Project
- Potomac River Shoreline Cleanup/Alice Ferguson Foundation
- Put-Cancer-On-Ice/American Cancer Society
- Thanksgiving Food Drive
- United Way Day of Caring/Spring Dell Center
- USHYEE/Mirant Academic Grant Program
Charitable Donations
- Big Brothers/ Big Sisters of Southern Maryland
- Charles County 4H, Charles County Boy Scouts, Charles County Youth League, and Charles County Public Schools
- Civista Medical Foundation
- Emergency Responders for: Bel Alton, Charles County Sheriff, Charles County VRS, Cobb Island, King George, La Plata, Newburg
- National Wild Turkey Federation
- Tri-County Council Leonardtown Earth Day Celebration
- Wayside Food Bank