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www.mybaycity.com April 12, 2009
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Future of Electric Cars, Furnaces Balance Environmental Concerns on Coal

Promise of Carbon Sequestration Underground Adds More "Pro" Side to Issue

April 12, 2009       1 Comments
By: Dave Rogers

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Les Whallon's "Brake Heater Furnace" eliminates air pollution by using friction to generate heat.
 
Batteries in electric hybrid "zero emissions" cars like the GM Impact must be recharged each night and will no doubt require more electrical generating capacity.

The Chevy Volt, the Honda Prieus and other electric cars signal a growing trend that undoubtedly will reduce carbon emissions to the atmosphere.

Will that trend provide a balance to environmental concerns about air pollution from needed additional electrical generating capacity?

That is an imponderable, of course, but seems to be a common sense response to claims by environmentalists that more electrical generating capacity will not be needed in the future.

Many intelligent and well-meaning folks will be out in force Tuesday and Wednesday at public hearings at Bay Valley to protest against the proposed Consumers Energy expansion of the Karn-Weadock plant at the mouth of the Saginaw River.

While we respect their opinions, we can't support the idea of blocking more generating capacity any more than we would suggest that gasoline or diesel-driven motor vehicles be taken off the road to cut pollution.

In fact, a careful consideration of the facts will, we think, produce the opinion that more electrical generating capacity from coal will make the atmosphere cleaner -- exactly the outcome the protesters want.

As is the case with any great public issue, reasoning citizens will weigh the pros and cons in making their decision.

To the credit of Consumers Energy, the firm has not attempted to overstate the need for more generating capacity. In fact, we think the firm has under-stated its perception of future needs. It has downplayed the growth of the battery-powered vehicle area; and vehicle batteries require electricity for recharging.

So, too, is electricity needed to power innovative new heating devices like the "Brake Heater Furnace" that has been designed by an Allegan County entrepreneur, Les Whallon.

This device, in final stages of development, uses friction energy from a small electric motor to produce hot water for heating. Growth in use of this device would immeasurably reduce the air pollution now produced by natural gas, oil and wood furnaces.

Both the electric (battery-powered) car and the Brake Heater Furnace reduce carbon emissions but require electricity produced by plants like Karn-Weadock. Success of these innovations will no doubt raise demand for electricity that has not yet been factored into power need projections.

Several other impelling reasons impinge to favor expansion of the local plant:

1-The U.S. government has spent hundreds of millions of dollars testing carbon sequestration in deep wells underground and reports indicate the plan works; implementation of the process would remove a huge hurdle to continued use of coal;

2-Electric vehicles are already here and will no doubt become a large part of the vehicle fleet in the near-term future; in fact, General Motors, if it survives, may depend on the success of the Volt and other similarly-powered vehicles;

3-Coal is our most abundant fossil fuel and this nation has been called "the Saudi Arabia" of coal; ample supplies are available and are said to be enough for centuries;

4-Pulverized clean coal generating units, as proposed for Karn-Weadock, will replace half-century old "dirty" units, providing a net gain in air quality as sought by environmentalists; and

5-Without the economic boost the $2.4 billion project will give this area, including 1,800 construction jobs and about 100 permanent jobs, the so-called "Great Lakes Bay" region will continue to be devastated by the contraction of the auto industry.

Also, and perhaps more importantly, we simply have to figure out how to use our enormous coal resource to reduce national dependence on foreign oil.

Acceleration of the development of wind and solar power, and all other alternative energy sources, needs to be part of the package for the future. Contrary to claims, those sources are not yet mature enough to provide adequate electrical generating capacity to power our future.

On balance, the future of our region and our nation are inextricably tied to adequate electrical generating capacity. And the only way to maintain our economy is to use coal in the most efficient way possible. And, to reduce directly polluting devices like gasoline and diesel-powered vehicles and natural gas, oil and wood furnaces. That is the plan that seems to have the most promise for our future; not one that hamstrings electric generating capacity.

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"The BUZZ" - Read Feedback From Readers!

greenman Says:       On April 13, 2009 at 04:37 PM
Your recent column, "Future Electric cars and furnaces...etc"
contains several errors of fact and omissions.
I hope you will allow a response that includes more accurate information about current and future electrical demand, including Consumer's Energy's own projections about future energy use.
The world is about to enter an exciting new era of renewable energy,
and Michigan risks being left behind. Your readers deserve to
hear another voice in this important debate.


best
Peter Sinclair
Agree? or Disagree?


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)

More from Dave Rogers

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