Permitting a Major Cogeneration Facility as a Minor Source - Available Environmental Opportunities, 1995 Environmental Conference Proceedings

Mark A. Casper

Cogentrix Energy, Inc.

Steven J. Doyon

Cogentrix Energy, Inc.

James M. Thornton

ENSR Consulting & Eng.

Fredrick A. Weber, Jr.

Boise Cascade

With more stringent environmental regulations making it more difficult to permit new sources, it is imperative to be creative in the design and engineering of a power facility in order to facilitate the permitting process in addition to making the facility environmentally compatible. Permitting time can be substantial and public opposition can potentially stop a project. Minimizing the environmental impact can help the permitting schedule along with gaining the public’s trust in the project. A case history of a major cogeneration facility in a downtown urban area is presented that discusses the issues addressed during conception, development and design that allowed the permitting and public process to proceed in the most efficient manner possible. Designing the facility to be a minor air pollution source, making use of air pollution offsets, water consumption savings, and wastewater discharge minimization are all used to help in this process.