proposed “Mountain State Clean Energy” (aka Longview II) natural gas plant, - MVCAC

12 Oct 2021


      Longview is moving forward with plans to construct another (3rd) fossil fueled electric generating station in the Ft. Martin community, about 3 miles from where we live here in the Forks of Cheat Forest.  I believe three is too many especially since this so called clean energy plant will emit into the air 321 tons per year of nitrogen oxides (NOx), 210 tons per year of particulate solids, about 25 tons per year of hazardous air pollutants like benzene, toluene, cadmium, chromium, etc., and huge steam plumes continuously.
The greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the plant will be over 5 million tons per year. The U.S. EPA regards anything over 100,000 tons per year as “significant” as an industrial source. (The truck traffic on Ft. Martin Road is already an extreme challenge for the local residents.)
The steam plumes from these plants which we readily see in the sky are primarily water vapor, but these small water droplets absorb acid gases and fine particulate matter emitted from the combustion boilers of all the power plants. These clouds also obscure the sunlight and increase rainout over our area. The finest particles (PM 2.5) are the greatest concern. Also, some chemists have studied free radicals as active chemical species in such environments, too complex for practical resolution.
I believe that having three large fossil fuel power plants together here raises air pollution and environment justice issues for the Ft. Martin community, the Bakers Ridge area, University High School, the WVU Medical Center, the Forks of Cheat Forest, and the entire region.  The original Ft. Martin plant generates 1100 megawatts of electricity, the Longview coal-fired plant generates 700 MW, and the proposed “clean energy” plant is rated at 1200 MW.  So the steam plumes and GHG will be very significant.
The concern is for both long term exposures, as some of us are exposed for decades and for short term events such as weather inversions where naturally occurring temperature profiles trap pollutants for hours in specific areas, particularly the valleys.
The WV Department of Environmental Protection has published a proposed Air Quality Permit, in the Morgantown Dominion Post on October 1st.  I am considering the preparation of a petition for signatures of those who have concerns after reviewing the above information and/or draft Air Quality Permit (Internet link below).
See also: https://dep.wv.gov/daq/permitting/Documents/Longview%20PSD/061-00134_APPL_R1...
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Duane Nichols, Mon Valley Clean Air Coalition, 304-216-5535
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The DAQ has scheduled a public meeting for 6:00 p.m. on Tuesday, October 19, 2021.  The public meeting will be held virtually to prevent the spread of COVID-19.  Instructions for providing written comments and for providing oral comments at the virtual public meeting are provided below.
The purpose of the public review process is to accept public comments on air quality issues relevant to this determination.  Only written comments or comments presented orally at the scheduled public meeting will be considered prior to final action on the permit.  All such comments will become part of the public record.
Written comments must be received by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, November 1, 2021:
·         Email written comments to Edward.S.Andrews@wv.gov with “Mountain State 
Clean Energy Comments” in the subject line, or
·         Mail hard copy comments to Edward Andrews, WV Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Air Quality, 601 57th Street, SE, Charleston, WV  25304.
Public meeting participation:
·         To participate online or by telephone, registration is required by 5:00 
p.m. on Tuesday, October 19, 2021. To register, please complete the registration 
form at: https://forms.gle/Cwev9iQPtieG8cU46
To register to speak, please indicate “yes” you want to provide oral comments on the record when you register. A confirmation e-mail will be sent with information on how to join the public meeting. If you do not have internet access and want to register to participate via telephone, please contact Sandie Adkins or Stephanie Hammonds at (304) 926-0475. Registration for the online meeting is required to fulfill the state’s obligation under federal air quality regulations to include a list of 
participants. Oral comments are limited to 5 minutes. If participating virtually, 
video demonstrations and screen sharing by commenters is not permitted.
Additional information, including copies of the draft permit, application, and all 
other supporting materials relevant to the permit decision may be obtained by 
contacting the engineer listed below or downloaded at:
https://dep.wv.gov/daq/permitting/Pages/NSR-Permit-Applications.aspx