Dominion, a national producer of electric power, will continue to operate the Salem Harbor Power Station in Massachusetts in compliance with strict environmental regulations.

"Salem Harbor has demonstrated that it is a viable, reliable and an environmentally sound resource for meeting the growing electricity demands of the Boston area," said Mark F. McGettrick, CEO of Dominion Generation, the company unit that operates its power stations. "We are confident that we can economically meet the requirements of tough, new Massachusetts and regional environmental laws that will take effect in the next few years."

Since Massachusetts established its stringent air emission regulations, Salem Harbor has reduced sulfur dioxide emissions by 79 percent, nitrogen oxides by 77 percent and mercury by 85 percent. Dominion purchased the Salem Harbor power plant in January 2005. The station has three coal-fired units and one oil-fired unit with a total generating capacity of 745 megawatts, enough electricity for about 745,000 homes.

Shortly after the purchase, Dominion entered into an agreement with the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection and other parties in May 2005 that set tough emissions goals. Salem Harbor met the targets, complying with some of the most stringent environmental regulations in the country, by switching to coal that has low sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides emission rates and by using low-sulfur oil. 

Dominion plans to test other measures aimed to eliminate 95 percent of mercury emissions beginning in October 2012. The company also will participate in the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative auctions that start in September as part of its plan to comply with RGGI regulations that begin Jan. 1, 2009. More.