• NV Energy, Inc. announced that it is postponing plans to build a "clean coal" plant in eastern Nevada, citing "environmental and economic uncertainties." This bit is worth noting:
The company will not move forward with construction of the coal plant until the technologies that will capture and store greenhouse gasses are commercially feasible, which is not likely before the end of the next decade.
Meanwhile, they’re still building the high-voltage transmission lines that were part of the original plan—they’re just going to use them to carry renewable energy.
• In Ohio, American Electric Power has put plans for an IGCC coal plant on hold, citing the lack of sufficient subsidies "state of the economy." Oh yeah, and the assessment that construction costs will top $2 billion.
Plans for the project have been placed on hold repeatedly, due to cost recovery issues, construction costs and regulatory issues. However, Celona said, AEP has not changed its plans, and still hopes to build here.
I’ll hold my breath.
• The University of Wisconsin’s Charter Street heating plant, long a target for enviros, has announced that it will no longer be burning coal. It’s switching to biomass, mainly wood and agricultural products.
"[It’s] taking … heating from the 19th century into the 21st century," [UW Associate Vice Chancellor Alan] Fish said. "It’s a more than $200 million investment by the state, and will eliminate the burning of over 100 tons of coal and have the potential to burn 250,000 tons of biomass."
Yes, all the usual criticisms of biomass apply, but at least it’s creating electricity and not fueling cars. It’s a step.
I could do a post like this every few weeks. Coal is on the ropes in the U.S. Next up: shutting down existing plants!
Copenhagen, U.S.A. December 7
Comments
View as Flat
Russ Posted 1:01 am
10 Feb 2009
And now? While there's still so much to be done, at least that particular cloud seems to be fading away, little by little, leaving one spot growing brighter.
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biodiversivist Posted 3:10 am
10 Feb 2009
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2008/3/17/12447/1102
In the end, it all comes down to biodiversity. Poison Darts--Protecting the biodiversity of our world
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Pompey Road Posted 11:35 pm
10 Feb 2009
The surface mine foreman on the Mountain Top Removal job behind my house says he loves the smell of nitrates in the morning. Environmental terrorist are still blowing this place to hell.
He must not have gotten the word yet! It looks and sounds like he is winning.
The eons of time and nature was good to us down here. It was not until we become civilized that destroying our habitat become fathomable or fashionable.
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Ted Nace Posted 4:20 am
11 Feb 2009
Help build CoalSwarm -- a shared informational resource on coal and alternatives to coal.
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tmullins Posted 6:09 am
11 Feb 2009
Hannity shut the fuck up !
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