EC January 2010

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11 participants
38 discussions

Fwd: [GW-ACT-LEADERS] AEP on pilot CCS facility in West Virginia
by James Kotcon 26 Jan '10

26 Jan '10

>>> "dave o'leary" <dave.oleary(a)MDSIERRA.ORG> 1/26/2010 10:23 AM >>> Here is a link to an interview about AEP's pilot CCS facility in West Virginia. I pasted in the link to the full interview, along with a few selected comments from the AEP spokesperson. David O'Leary Chapter Conservation Chair Sierra Club - Maryland Chapter = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = http://www.bgrncol.com/status-report-on-the-operation-of-the-largest-operat… Status Report on the Operation of the Largest Operating Coal-Fired CCS Plant in the U.S. Published on January 25th, 2010 in Interviews American Electric Power, one of the largest electric utilities in the United States, started operating a 20 MW coal-fired Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) plant in September 2009. It is currently the largest facility of its kind in the United States, and the success or failure of this operation will likely have a major impact on the viability of this technology and the future role of coal in the U.S.'s and the world's low carbon emissions future, as well as impact the adoption rates of nuclear and renewables. In this follow-up interview, Nick Akins, the Executive Vice President of Power Generation for American Electric Power (AEP), speaks about the status of the operation and what it means for scale-up timetables and ultimate price and energy penalties that affect the viability of coal-fired CCS. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = The 20-megawatt CCS installation at our Mountaineer Plant in New Haven, W.Va., started capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) Sept. 1, 2009, and we began injecting CO2 into the geologic formations Oct. 1, 2009. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = we are in the range of the 15 to 30 percent energy penalty that we were expecting. It is important to realize that this is a process validation installation, so it is not optimized for efficiency, but rather for flexibility to adjust process conditions. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = We were extremely pleased to be notified Dec. 4, 2009, that we were selected to receive $334 million in funding through the Department of Energy's Clean Coal Power Initiative to scale-up the CCS process at our Mountaineer Plant. We plan to build the 235-megawatt installation of the chilled ammonia carbon capture and storage process at Mountaineer and expect it to be operational in 2015. At this scale, we will capture and store approximately 1.5 million metric tones of CO2 annually. = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = We anticipate retrofitting up to 75 percent of our existing 25,600 megawatts of coal-fueled generation with CCS technology by 2025 or 2030. The plants we retrofit will be our largest, most efficient generating units that have already been retrofit to reduce emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides and mercury. The remaining 25 percent of our existing coal-fired generating fleet likely will be retired. - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the CONS-SPST-GLOBALWARM-CHAIRS list, send any message to: CONS-SPST-GLOBALWARM-CHAIRS-signoff-request(a)LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp Sign up to receive Sierra Club Insider, the flagship e-newsletter. Sent out twice a month, it features the Club's latest news and activities. Subscribe and view recent editions at http://www.sierraclub.org/insider/ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the CONS-SPST-GLOBALWARM-CHAIRS list, send any message to: CONS-SPST-GLOBALWARM-CHAIRS-signoff-request(a)LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp

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Longview Tax Exempt Bonds
by James Kotcon 25 Jan '10

25 Jan '10

Longview has requested a determination by the WV Public Service Commission. that tax-exempt Industrial revenue bonds to be issued by the WV Economic Development Authority "do not offend the public interest". The bonds were approved by the WV-EDA three years ago, but Longview now wants the PSC's blessing because that is a condition written into state law. I propose to submit the attached Letter of Protest objecting to sch a determination. The deadline is Thursday, so let me know if you have any thoughts on this issue. JBK

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NYTimes.com: Expanding Use of Wind Power Feasible, but May Be Costly
by william.depaulo＠gmail.com 25 Jan '10

25 Jan '10

This page was sent to you by: william.depaulo(a)gmail.com. link to summary of wind study potential by Obama's DOE http://www.nrel.gov/wind/systemsintegration/pdfs/2010/ewits_executive_summa… BUSINESS / ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT | January 21, 2010 Expanding Use of Wind Power Feasible, but May Be Costly By MATTHEW L. WALD According to a study, heavy reliance on wind energy is "technically feasible," but will require significant expansion of the power grid. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/21/business/energy-environment/21wind.html?e… ---------------------------------------------------------- ABOUT THIS E-MAIL This e-mail was sent to you by a friend through NYTimes.com's E-mail This Article service. For general information about NYTimes.com, write to help(a)nytimes.com. NYTimes.com 620 Eighth Avenue New York, NY 10018 Copyright 2010 The New York Times Company

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Underground Injection of Gas Industry Brine Taking Off
by Frank Young 24 Jan '10

24 Jan '10

Blank "Several years into the developing Marcellus Shale gas boom, West Virginia well operators are opening new brine disposal injection wells to handle the waste fluids. " http://www.statejournal.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=73947

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Fwd: FYI: Republican Poll- "BIPARTISAN PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR CLIMATE LEGISLATION"
by James Kotcon 24 Jan '10

24 Jan '10

FYI. This is a pretty important survey, and the pdf has some very important advice on word choice. How we talk about this matters. Terms like "Carbon Neutral" and "Green Jobs" are jargon and they are NOT reaching Americans, whereas concerns about energy security, health, and sustainability matter a lot. "It's not what you say, it's what they hear." JBK >>> Paula Carrell <Paula.Carrell(a)sierraclub.org> 1/22/2010 12:39 PM >>> ----- Forwarded by Bob Bingaman/Sierraclub on 01/22/2010 11:08 AM ----- Bob Bingaman/Sierraclub 01/22/2010 11:07 AM

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Fwd: 2010 coal campaign small grant program announcement
by Paul Wilson 23 Jan '10

23 Jan '10

fyi, incase some of you are not on this listserve. best, paul ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Verena Owen <verena_owen(a)prodigy.net> Date: 2010/1/22 Subject: 2010 coal campaign small grant program announcement To: COAL-CAMPAIGN-ALERTS(a)lists.sierraclub.org Beyond Coal Campaign * * * * * Small Grant * *Request for Proposals* *January, 2010* *ANNOUNCEMENT * * * The Beyond Coal Campaign is soliciting proposals from Sierra Club entities seeking to pursue its Campaign goals in 2010. Eligible entities include Sierra Club committees, chapters, groups, and ad hoc project teams. The small grants are reserved for volunteer-led efforts and are on a reimbursement-basis only. We cannot pay for staff time. Projects must align with the following primary goals of the National Coal Campaign: - Prevent the construction of a new coal-fired power plants, - Retire and/or replace existing coal plants with clean energy, - End mountaintop removal mining, prevent mining and infrastructure expansions in the Power River Basin, Alaska and other locations with destructive mining practices, - Increase opposition to and defeat dirty fuels : tar sands, oil shale, liquid coal and coal gas The Beyond Coal Campaign will give priority to projects where funds are used to increase grass roots volunteer involvement, to empower activists to engage others to help win on coal, and are used to coordinate local, state and national efforts and help build coalitions with other public interest and public health groups. Priority will also be given for issues or areas where we currently not have enough capacity. We are looking for innovative ideas, and ideas that could be translated or used for other locations. The coal campaign fully supports the Club’s diversity policy and encourages projects that further the goals of the policy. There are only limited *C3* funds (that means no lobbying), a total of about $50,000, available for these small grants. The suggested budget range is $5000 or less. Depending on demand, available funds, and a good pitch, a larger project may be considered. The Coal Campaign Small Grants Application Form is available on the Coal Campaign’s Clubhouse website or by contacting Judy.Hofrichter(a)sierraclub.org . There is no deadline for applying. Please inquire about available funds. It is expected that once applied for, funding decisions about projects will be made in two to four weeks and applicants will be notified of the outcome. If you do not hear from us, please follow up! * * * * For the coal team, Verena Owen Volunteer co-lead ------------------------------ - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the COAL-CAMPAIGN-ALERTS list, send any message to: COAL-CAMPAIGN-ALERTS-signoff-request(a)LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp Sign up to receive Sierra Club Insider, the flagship e-newsletter. Sent out twice a month, it features the Club's latest news and activities. Subscribe and view recent editions at http://www.sierraclub.org/insider/ -- Paul Wilson Sierra Club 504 Jefferson Ave Charles Town, WV 25414-1130 Phone: 304-725-4360 Cell: 304-279-1361 "There is no forward until you have gone back" ~Buddha

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Fwd: drop in electricity usage, especially coal-generated
by Jim Sconyers 22 Jan '10

22 Jan '10

Jim Sconyers jim_scon(a)yahoo.com 304.698.9628 Remember: Mother Nature bats last. --- On Fri, 1/22/10, Jane Feldman <feldman.jane(a)GMAIL.COM> wrote: From: Jane Feldman <feldman.jane(a)GMAIL.COM> Subject: Fwd: drop in electricity usage, especially coal-generated To: CONS-SPST-GLOBALWARM-CHAIRS(a)LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG Date: Friday, January 22, 2010, 1:28 PM Hi, all - Maybe you have seen this already. Good stuff. The EIA has a nice monthly report on electricity usage in the US at http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/electricity/epm/epm_sum.html The latest one shows electrical usage dropping 4.6% in 2009 vs. 2008 and coal-generated electricity decreasing a whooping 12.4%. Factor in a recession, but I think this is still very good news. -- Jane Conservation Chair, Southern Nevada Group of the Sierra Club Energy Chair, Toiyabe Chapter of the Sierra Club - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - To unsubscribe from the CONS-SPST-GLOBALWARM-CHAIRS list, send any message to: CONS-SPST-GLOBALWARM-CHAIRS-signoff-request(a)LISTS.SIERRACLUB.ORG Check out our Listserv Lists support site for more information: http://www.sierraclub.org/lists/faq.asp Sign up to receive Sierra Club Insider, the flagship e-newsletter. Sent out twice a month, it features the Club's latest news and activities. Subscribe and view recent editions at http://www.sierraclub.org/insider/

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Fwd: EPA News Release (HQ): EPA Increases Transparency on Chemical Risk Information
by James Kotcon 21 Jan '10

21 Jan '10

Wonder if this covers fracking fluids in gas well drilling? JBK CONTACTS: Dale Kemery kemery.dale(a)epa.gov 202-564-7839 202-564-4355 Enesta Jones jones.enesta(a)epa.gov 202-564-7873 202-564-4355 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 21, 2010 EPA Increases Transparency on Chemical Risk Information Action part of continued comprehensive reform of toxic substance laws WASHINGTON — As part of Administrator Lisa P. Jackson’s commitment to strengthen and reform chemical management, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) today announced a new policy to increase the public’s access to information on chemicals. Starting today, EPA has announced its intention to reject a certain type of confidentiality claim, known as Confidential Business Information (CBI), on the identity of chemicals. The chemicals that will be affected by this action are those that are submitted to EPA with studies that show a substantial risk to people's health and the environment and have been previously disclosed on the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) Chemical Inventory. This action represents another step to use the agency’s authority under the existing TSCA to the fullest extent possible, recognizing EPA’s strong belief that the 1976 law is both outdated and in need of reform. “Assuring the safety of chemicals is one of Administrator Jackson's top priorities for EPA's future,” said Steve Owens, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Prevention, Pesticides and Toxic Substances. “The American people are entitled to transparent, accessible information on chemicals that may pose a risk to their health or the environment. We will continue taking steps that increase transparency and assure the safety of chemicals in our products, our environment and our bodies.” Under TSCA, companies may claim a range of sensitive, proprietary information as CBI. Under Section 8(e) of TSCA, companies that manufacture, process, or distribute chemicals are required to immediately provide notice to EPA if they learn that a chemical presents a substantial risk of injury to health or the environment. The Section 8(e) reports are made available on EPA’s Web site. However, until today, companies would routinely claim confidentiality for the actual identity of the chemical covered by the Section 8(e) submission, so the public posting of the information would not include the name of the chemical. The new policy announced today ends this practice for chemicals on the public portion of the TSCA Inventory. This new policy will increase the amount of information available by granting the public access to the chemical identification information submitted, along with other health and safety data under Section 8(e). In the coming months, EPA intends to announce additional steps to further increase transparency of chemical information. EPA’s new policy on TSCA Section 8(e) submissions is being published in the Federal Register. More information on the new policy: http://www.epa.gov/oppt/tsca8e/ More information on EPA’s principles for comprehensive TSCA reform: http://www.epa.gov/oppt/existingchemicals/pubs/principles.html R016 Sent by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency · 1200 Pennsylvania Avenue NW · Washington DC 20460 · 202-564-4355

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Fw: Report on future of Central Appalachian coal
by Jim Sconyers 20 Jan '10

20 Jan '10

FYI - very important new report on the future of coal in WV. Jim Sconyers jim_scon(a)yahoo.com 304.698.9628 Remember: Mother Nature bats last. --- On Wed, 1/20/10, Evan Hansen <ehansen(a)downstreamstrategies.com> wrote: From: Evan Hansen <ehansen(a)downstreamstrategies.com> Subject: Report on future of Central Appalachian coal To: "Jim_Kotcon" <jkotcon(a)wvu.edu>, "Duane_Nichols" <Duane330(a)aol.com>, "Jim Sconyers" <jim_scon(a)yahoo.com> Date: Wednesday, January 20, 2010, 6:13 AM Hi Jim, Duane, and Jim: I thought you might be interested in this report that we just released. Here’s a good description in the Coal Tattoo blog: http://blogs.wvgazette.com/coaltattoo/2010/01/19/must-read-report-the-decli… Evan Evan Hansen, President Downstream Strategies 219 Wall Street Morgantown, WV 26505 304.292.2450 www.downstreamstrategies.com From: Downstream Strategies [mailto:info@downstreamstrategies.com] Sent: Tuesday, January 19, 2010 9:25 AM To: ehansen(a)downstreamstrategies.com Subject: Release: Report on Central Appalachian Coal Argues for Diversification FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE January 19, 2009 CONTACT Rory McIlmoil, Staff Research Analyst Energy and Climate Change Program (304) 292-2450 (o) (304) 376-0045 (c) rmcilmoil(a)downstreamstrategies.com New Report Warns of Decline of Central Appalachian Coal Argues for New Focus on Economic Diversification and Renewable Energy for the Region MORGANTOWN, WV - As the legislative season begins across Central Appalachia, a new report by Downstream Strategies details future challenges to coal production in the region and argues that policy-makers should strongly support renewable energy and the development of new economic opportunities for coal-producing areas. "Coal has contributed significantly to local and state economies in Central Appalachia, but production has fallen substantially over the last 12 years as other coal basins and sources of fuel have become more competitive," said lead author Rory McIlmoil. "This trend is expected to continue as mining costs increase due to the depletion of the lowest cost coal reserves, and as new environmental regulations are implemented. As this happens, local and state economies will need new sources of jobs and revenue to replace coal mining jobs and taxes." According to the report, Central Appalachian coal production is projected to fall by nearly 50% within the next ten years. Central Appalachia includes the coal-producing counties in southern West Virginia, eastern Kentucky, southwest Virginia, and eastern Tennessee The report points to renewable energy and energy efficiency as two sectors where new jobs and tax revenues can be created, as the region has a wealth of clean energy resources. The report concludes that losses related to the decline of the coal industry can be recaptured by gains from wind, solar, low-impact hydro, and sustainable biomass production, and from a strong focus on energy efficiency improvements. To support the diversification of the regional energy economy, the report outlines a series of policy instruments, including requiring each state to provide 25% of their energy from renewable sources; the provision of grants, tax credits, clean energy bonds, or low-interest loans to support renewable energy development and manufacturing; the implementation and strengthening of net metering laws; and the development of workforce programs aimed at providing the skills and knowledge required for renewable energy industries. The study also argues for strong incentives for local ownership of energy development, to help maximize the local economic benefits of renewable energy projects. "Given that coal production is projected to decline significantly in the coming decades, diversification of Central Appalachian economies is now more critical than ever," said co-author Evan Hansen, President of Downstream Strategies. "State leaders should use this legislative session to increase support for new economic development across the region, especially in the rural areas set to be the most impacted by a sharp decline in the region's coal economy." In December 2009, West Virginia Senator Robert C. Byrd stated, "West Virginians can choose to anticipate change and adapt to it, or resist and be overrun by it. The time has arrived for the people of the Mountain State to think long and hard about which course they want to choose." According to McIlmoil, "The same is true for all of Central Appalachia, and we hope this report helps policy-makers understand the changes that are coming so that they can support new industries. The renewable energy sector offers one of the greatest opportunities for economic development." Downstream Strategies is an environmental consulting company in Morgantown, West Virginia, with program areas in environmental policy, environmental science, and geographic information systems. The company provides science, research, and tools to organizations, businesses, and agencies. It offers clients an alternative to mainstream environmental consulting by combining sound interdisciplinary skills with a core belief in the importance of protecting the environment and linking economic development with natural resource stewardship. Download the full report or visit the Downstream Strategies publications page. # # # Forward email This email was sent to ehansen(a)downstreamstrategies.com by info(a)downstreamstrategies.com. Update Profile/Email Address | Instant removal with SafeUnsubscribe™ | Privacy Policy. Email Marketing by Downstream Strategies | 219 Wall Street | Morgantown | WV | 26505

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Use of diesel fuel in gas drilling as fracing material
by William V. DePaulo, Esq. 20 Jan '10

20 Jan '10

[image: Green Inc. - Energy, the Environment and the Bottom Line]<http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/> <http://www.nytimes.com/adx/bin/adx_click.html?type=cookie&pos=Position1B> January 20, 2010, 9:20 am Gas Drilling Techniques Under Fire … Again By JOHN COLLINS RUDOLF<http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/author/john-collins-rudolf/> Drilling companies are side-stepping regulations on use of diesel fuel in the extraction process, a new report suggests. Federal government oversight of hydraulic fracturing – a drilling technique that boosts natural gas extraction by blasting water, sand and chemicals underground at high pressure – is sorely lacking, putting drinking water supplies at risk, an environmental policy group claimed in a report<http://www.ewg.org/drillingaroundthelaw>released Tuesday. According to the Environmental Working Group <http://www.ewg.org/>, a research and advocacy group based in Washington, drilling companies are side-stepping a permitting requirement for the use of diesel fuel in their fracturing fluids by using similar petroleum distillates that contain the same toxins as diesel, but require no permitting. The report also cites evidence that drilling companies continue to inject diesel fuel underground without the proper permits. “The industry has been able to operate above the law,” said Dusty Horwitt, the group’s senior counsel. “They’re doing an end-run around what little oversight is left.” The use of hydraulic fracturing has vastly boosted the productivity of existing natural gas wells and opened new territory to drilling, helping lift natural gas reserves in the United States by nearly a third, and igniting a drilling boom from New York to Wyoming. Yet as gas companies explore drilling in sensitive regions like the New York City watershed in upstate New York, concern over the technology’s potential to pollute water supplies has mounted. The drilling boom – and the growing controversy over the risk of water contamination – was outlined in a December article<http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/08/business/energy-environment/08fracking.ht…>by Times reporters Jad Mouawad and Clifford Krauss. As they noted, the evidence of groundwater pollution attributable to fracturing is thin — though environmental groups contend that is because governments have been slow to react to the drilling boom and are not looking hard for contamination. Gas companies, meanwhile, acknowledge the validity of some concerns, but they claim that their technology is fundamentally safe. In 2004, the United States Environmental Protection Agency released a report<http://www.propublica.org/feature/buried-secrets-is-natural-gas-drilling-en…>declaring that hydraulic fracturing posed little threat to human health. The following year, drawing support from the E.P.A. report, Congress voted to exempt hydraulic fracturing from oversight under the Clean Water Act. The law made one exception, however – that companies acquire permits when using diesel fuel in their fracturing fluid. Diesel contains benzene and other cancer-causing agents. Obeying the letter of the law, many drilling companies switched from diesel to other petroleum distillates. Yet these distillates also contain toxics such as benzene, sometimes in even greater levels than the diesel they are replacing, according to the Environmental Working Group report. “These substitutes are extremely toxic,” Mr. Horwitt said. The group also contacted environmental agencies in New York, Pennsylvania, Montana, Texas and Wyoming – states where hydraulic fracturing has been used extensively – seeking information on the continuing use of diesel fuel in drilling. Only one state, Wyoming, provided information on permitting, the report states. “It’s not even clear if companies are getting permits if they’re using diesel,” Mr. Horwitt said. “This whole area has been shrouded in secrecy and lax regulation.” Drilling companies maintain that hydraulic fracturing is safe and have launched a fierce lobbying and public relations effort<http://www.energyindepth.org/projectbrief/record-of-safety/>to resist further regulation. Congress will have a chance to revisit the controversy over the safety of the technology this week as it weighs approval<http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/76831-exxon-ceo-to-tout-safety…>of the Exxon Mobil Corporation’s proposed $41 billion acquisition of XTO Energy, a major player in natural gas extraction. [image: DCSIMG] -- William V. DePaulo, Esq. 179 Summers Street, Suite 232 Charleston, WV 25301-2163 Tel: 304-342-5588 Fax: 304-342-5505 william.depaulo(a)gmail.com www.passeggiata.com This electronic mail is intended to be received and read only by certain individuals. It may contain information that is privileged or protected from disclosure by law. If it has been misdirected, or if you suspect you received this in error, please notify me by replying and then delete this message and your reply. These restrictions apply to any attachment to this email.

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EC January 2010