Title_The Benefits of our Investments
Over the past decade, Vectren has invested $410 million in pollution control equipment to capture air emissions that naturally occur when burning coal to generate electricity. These investments have improved local air quality and aided economic development.

Air emissions are down substantially: Sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions are down 90% and Nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions are down 80% since 1970. Allowing these chemicals to be emitted into the atmosphere can lead to the creation of acid rain. Acid rain causes acidification of lakes and streams and contributes to the damage of trees at high elevations and many sensitive forest soils. In addition, acid rain accelerates the decay of building materials and paints.

Title_Documented Changes in Air Quality

May 2012 - EPA, Lung Association cite improvement in Evansville air quality

Air quality in Vanderburgh County is improving, according to findings of the American Lung Association and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency trumpeted by local authorities.
Read the Evansville Courier article

Fact: In 2004, Vanderburgh and Warrick Counties were listed as a non-attainment area for the revised 8-hour ozone standard based upon 2002-2003 monitoring data. Shortly following the completion and full operation of Vectren’s emissions control projects that capture nitrogen oxide, Vanderburgh and Warrick Counties were declared in attainment with the revised 8-hour ozone standard in December of 2005.

Fact: In 2005, Vanderburgh and Warrick Counties were listed as a non-attainment area for the fine particulate air quality standard. Between 2004 and 2009 we installed state-of-the-art fabric filters on the 250-megawatt Culley Unit 3 and the 245-megwatt Brown Unit 1 and completed a scrubber on Warrick Unit 4. By November 2009, Vanderburgh and Warrick Counties were declared in attainment of the 1997 fine particulate standard.

Click here to chart a history of the emissions-control investments at Vectren’s A.B. Brown and F.B. Culley power plants.


Title_Emissions Tutorial

Non-attainment area: In United States environmental law, a non-attainment area is an area considered to have air quality worse than the National Ambient Air Quality Standards as defined in the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1970. Counties in non-attainment status struggle to attract new businesses making them a deterrent to economic development and the overall quality of life.