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No Need to Scrap Coal Generating Plants to Green Nation, Says Study

95 Percent of Americans Say Energy Independence Is Top National Concern

December 1, 2007       Leave a Comment
By: Dave Rogers

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About a dozen states, including Florida, Texas and Oklahoma, have rejected plans for 22 new coal-fired power plants.
 

A nationwide debate is heating up over coal-based energy.

The fight is crucial to Michigan and the Bay area since one of the largest coal generating plants in the state is located here.

Some states are scrapping plans for new coal plants as the issue entered the political arena with ads on the CNN/YouTube Republican debate last week.

About a dozen states, including Florida, Texas and Oklahoma, have rejected plans for 22 new coal-fired power plants.

In Kansas, the denial of permits for two 700 megawatt coal burning power generators was said to be the first time a denial was based on carbon dioxide emissions. Opponents attacked the denial as aiding foreign regimes that sell natural gas.

Google announced last week that it will invest hundreds of millions of dollars to develop electricity from energy sources that will be cheaper than electricity produced from coal.


On the one side, Americans for Balanced Energy Choices (ABEC) has geared up a multi-million campaign for public support for coal-producing industry.

Another pro-coal group, Cleancoal USA, contends that use of more coal is one of the keys to U.S. energy independence as well as an important factor in economic growth.

On the other side are groups like the Sierra Club and the Center for American Progress. The latter is pushing a progressive growth strategy based on renewable energy sources, efficiency and greenhouse gas emission standards for coal.

In the middle are the economies of places like Michigan that has an almost desperate need for power and is still in the process of developing renewable energy sources.

Proposed expansion of the Consumers Energy Karn-Weadock electrical generating facility at the mouth of the river is one important key to the Bay City area economy.

Michigan's Legislature is reportedly near agreement on legislation to re-regulate power plants, a move that is vital to the Consumers plan to build a new $2 billion plant here. (See MyBayCity.com Nov. 28, 2007.) Nearly 2,000 construction jobs for about seven years and about 80 permanent jobs are at stake.

So-called "clean coal" technology is the basis of the Consumers proposal here and the Cleancoal USA organization is promoting the idea that it is one of the solutions for America's growing energy needs. Among telling points the group makes:

  • America has more than 250 billion tons of recoverable coal reserves, six times more than the combined U.S. oil and natural gas reserves;

  • America's coal supply is equal to some 800 billion barrels of oil, more than three times the energy equivalent of Saudi Arabia's oil;

  • A Harris poll last February showed that 66 percent of Americans want to use more coal;

  • Doubling U.S. coal use would create $3 trillion in net-present-value benefits for the national economy by 2025;

    While we are convinced that the threat from global warming is very real and agree with the need to reduce greenhouse gases, we don't want to join the critics who want to stop all coal generating immediately.

    A new study reported in The New York Times provides a moderating view of the problem. The study, by McKinsey & Company consultants, concludes that the United States could cut up to 28 percent of greenhouse gas emissions "at fairly modest cost and with only small technology innovations."

    "A broad public education program around wasteful energy consumption could be mounted," based on the Keep America Beautiful campaign of the 1960s, the report said.

    The potential for lowering emissions from new nuclear plants and renewable energy from wind or solar sources is relatively modest, the report said.

    Emissions limits, tax breaks to promote efficient buildings, cars and appliances are among suggestions by the report.

    The report, funded by DTE Energy, parent company of Michigan's Detroit Edison, Pacific Gas & Electric, Shell and several defense-related firms and organizations, was timed to precede a Congressional vote this week on proposals to limit greenhouse gas emissions.

    Consumers has a major renewable energy program underway. The City of Grand Rapids has authorized the largest single purchase of Michigan-based renewable energy by enrolling as the largest participant in Consumers Energy's Green Generation program.

    The Grand Rapids City Commission has approved a resolution to enroll in the program. Through this action, Grand Rapids has attained its goal of receiving 20 percent of its electric supply from Michigan-based renewable sources by the end of 2008.

    The action will reduce the City of Grand Rapids' carbon footprint by an estimated 10,200 tons of carbon dioxide annually and will be cost neutral, city officials said.

    Grand Rapids and Consumers Energy are also collaborating on strategies to reduce the city's electric peak load requirements, which can result in lower power costs.

    Consumers Energy's Green Generation program is the most successful voluntary renewable energy program in Michigan and one of the fastest growing in the nation, with more than 11,400 customer participants.

    "Michigan is being renewed by renewable energy," said Commissioner Monica Martinez, a member of the Michigan Public Service Commission.

    The Green Generation program has caused the development of several new renewable energy projects in Michigan in order to provide electricity for the program. The projects include landfill gas facilities located near Lennon, Marshall and Zeeland. The Lennon site hosts four landfill gas generating units, while the Marshall and Zeeland sites each host one landfill gas generating unit.

    Consumers Energy also purchases electricity for the program generated by two wind turbines near Mackinaw City and has entered into contracts with other wind-generation projects that are in various stages of development. All of the projects are located in Michigan's Lower Peninsula and all sources are Green-e certified as renewable.

    The Green Generation program offers Consumers Energy's electric customers an opportunity to support renewable energy by enrolling in the voluntary program and paying a small premium. Program information is available at www.greengeneration.com.

    Consumers Energy, the principal subsidiary of CMS Energy, provides natural gas and electricity to nearly 6.5 million of Michigan?s 10 million residents in all 68 Lower Peninsula counties.

    Media contacts: City of Grand Rapids: George Heartwell, Mayor, (616) 456-3164 or Eric DeLong, Deputy City Manager, (616) 456-3119

    Consumers Energy: Timothy J. Pietryga (616) 530-4364, or Dan Bishop (517) 788-2395

    Michigan Public Service Commission: Judy Palnau (517) 241-3323###

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    Dave Rogers

    Dave Rogers is a former editorial writer for the Bay City Times and a widely read,
    respected journalist/writer in and around Bay City.
    (Contact Dave Via Email at carraroe@aol.com)

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