Electrostatic precipitators remove the ash by electrically charging the particles and moving them past a plate with the opposite charge. As you may know, opposite charges attract, so the particles stick to these plates. The clean gases proceed to the stacks.

The ash that has been collected on the plates is continuously released by rapping the plates with a mechanical hammer. The ash slides down the plate into the precipitator hoppers.

This ash is called "flyash" and accounts for 95% of all ash collected. The remaining 5% is termed "bottom ash" because it is collected at the bottom of the boiler.

Both types of ash are carried through the cyclonic vacuum system to the ash silos which are located at the rear of the building. The ash is temporarily stored in these silos until it is trucked away. 17 tons of ash per truckload is returned to the strip mines where it is used for reclamation and restoration of the land to its original condition.

To see how the electricity generated gets to your home take the distribution tour.