Posted: Nov 12, 2009 7:11 AM
Many people think vehicles are the biggest pollutants to our environment when it comes to fossil fuel emissions but electric companies are the worst.
Most of our electricity is powered by coal which gives out twice the amount of carbon dioxide as other sources.
Joe Salkowski, spokesperson with TEP, said, "The generating power through fossil fuels produces carbon dioxide and that's been a fact of life for more than a century in the power generation business."
The group Environment Arizona put together a report where they found pollution has gone up 61% in Arizona since 1990 and electric generation makes up about 54% of that.
Obviously, population has a lot to do with it but over the last few years, TEP has been trying to reduce the levels of pollution.
"As we move forward we're looking to meet an increasing percentage of our customers needs through resources like this solar yard here behind me," Salkowski said.
Solar is a big one. TEP is working on a program that would let customers purchase solar power for their homes for only a few bucks a month.
Salkowski also says the last coal burning unit they brought online was 1990. They've been moving toward natural gas instead.
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