Environmental & Fuels Department

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Environmental Department

The SIPC Environmental Department manages the company’s compliance with all environmental laws and regulations in a consistent, responsible, and reasonably-priced manner. These goals are accomplished by advising the Board of Directors, General Manager, and Staff of ways to address new regulations, or how to mitigate situations of environmental concern. The entire department consists of Leonard Hopkins, manager; and Jason McLaurin, environmental coordinator.

Through the efforts of these two professionals, Southern Illinois Power Cooperative complies with all air, land, water, and hazardous waste regulations. Such rules typically require tasks such as continuous air emission monitoring; monthly, quarterly, and annual reporting; and daily plant monitoring to assure continuous compliance. Over the last fifteen years, SIPC has reduced sulfur dioxide emissions from their coal-fired boilers over 75% and nitrogen oxide emissions over 70%. Southern Illinois Power Cooperative is proud to prove that a coal-fired electricity generator can be cost effective and a good environmental steward.

Fuel Procurement

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The Fuel Procurement Department is responsible for finding, testing, and contracting for the proper fuels to power SIPC’s boilers in the most cost effective and environmentally acceptable manner. Typically this requires finding various blends of fuel at various prices and qualities, testing each fuel to assure its’ specifications match the environmental and calorific needs of SIPC, and negotiating a contract that guarantees delivery of these fuels at the best price for the plant.

The Department is managed by Leonard Hopkins who has fifteen years with the Cooperative, as well as experience in coal mining and the environmental field. This department strives to provide the power plant with the fuel it needs at prices below the typical market value.