This 190-megawatt power plant is fueled by coal, natural gas and alternate fuel.

MGE is modernizing its fleet of generation. Under our Energy 2015 plan, Blount is scheduled to discontinue burning coal at the end of 2011. It then will have a capacity of about 100-MW of natural gas generation.

With Energy 2015, MGE has increased its wind power capacity by nearly eight times and is investing in new cleaner coal generation. These system improvements are expected to result in an 8% reduction in overall carbon dioxide emissions between 2005 and 2015. For details, see the MGE Environmental Responsibility Report.

Environmental Cooperative Agreement
MGE recently renewed its Environmental Cooperative Agreement (ECA) with the Department of Natural Resources for another five-year term. Through this agreement, MGE is pursuing goals at Blount that will:

• Reduce waste.
• Improve air emissions.
• Save natural resources.

Alternate energy at Blount
Blount was one of the first electric generating stations in the country to burn alternate fuels such as wastepaper and plastic. This paper-derived fuel (PDF) is a mix of shredded preconsumer waste that cannot otherwise be recycled.
Burning PDF:

• Offsets coal.
• Reduces emissions.
• Saves landfill space.

ISO 14001 certified
Blount's Environmental Management System became ISO 14001 certified in October 2004. Blount successfully passed an independent audit in 2007 to recertify the ISO 14001 status for another three-year term.

Blount Advisory Group
A Community Environmental Advisory Group works in partnership with us on environmental issues at Blount. The group, which meets regularly with MGE, is made up of people who either live or work near Blount or those impacted by Blount.
    
Tours of Blount
Tours of Blount are available for groups of six or more. Contact Jim Jenson at (608) 252-7091 or jejenson@mge.com.

For more information
How Blount works
Alternative Fuels
Community Environmental Advisory Group
Environmental Stewardship
Environmental Cooperative Agreement