Clean Energy Accomplishments
By successfully organizing grassroots opposition and providing legal assistance to communities affected by coal plant proposals, WCEC’s local partners have helped to curb the development of dirty coal plants and expand opportunities for clean energy generation in the West. In most cases, a combination of public opposition, legal disputes, rising construction costs, financing shortages and regulatory uncertainties have forced utilities to withdraw proposals for conventional coal facilities and reconsider the potential for renewable energy technologies to meet energy demands in the region. As a result, many major power utilities are beginning to reevaluate their near and long-term strategic plans to transition to safer, cleaner and less controversial energy alternatives.
PacifiCorp’s Intermountain Power Project Unit 3 (Utah)
PacifiCorp initially planned to build Unit 3 of the Intermountain Power Project (IPP) alongside two existing coal-burning units in Delta, Utah. In November 2004, the Sierra Club and the Grand Canyon Trust joined together to appeal the project’s air permits to the Utah Air Quality Board. In July 2007, the six California cities that purchase 75% of IPP’s power generation withdrew their support for the third unit, citing California law that prohibits state utilities from acquiring energy from facilities that fail to meet the state’s clean air standards. In light of the project’s growing opposition and legal encumbrance, PacifiCorp announced its decision to withdraw its filing for the development of a third coal unit in December 2007. The company cited political uncertainty regarding impending climate change regulation as a major point of concern and has consequently chosen to consider an alternate proposal for a combination of natural gas and wind power systems. After withdrawing its proposal, PacifiCorp announced that coal plants are “no longer viable options” and has removed coal-plant construction from its strategic plans for the next 10 years. The environmental community has shown support for the new project, citing the long-term flexibility and efficiency gains of combined wind and natural gas projects as a major benefit to Utah residents and PacifiCorp’s power customers. PacifiCorp hopes to have their revised project online by the year 2014.
For more information, contact Mark Clemens with the Utah Smart Energy Campaign.
PacifiCorp’s Jim Bridger Project (Wyoming)
As of November 2007, PacifiCorp abandoned its bid to expand the Bridger power plant due to declining demand for coal-fired power, inaccuracies in its emissions projections, and the cost of compliance with potential federal legislation to limit carbon dioxide emissions. For its near-term strategic planning, PacifiCorp has stated that it is not confident whether new coal generation will satisfy the “least cost, least risk standards” that would render it a viable option. PacifiCorp also set aside plans for a 500 MW IGCC power facility due to a lack of federal funding for IGCC plants and similar concerns over federal regulation of carbon emissions. Powder River Basin Resource Council and its allies played an important role in opposing this project and continue to challenge construction of other conventional coal plants in area.
For more information, contact Shannon Anderson with Powder River Basin Resource Council at (307) 672-5809.
Energy Matters Update has more information on the Jim Bridger Project.
Xcel Energy (Colorado)
In August 2008, state regulators officially approved Xcel’s plan to shut down two existing coal-fired power plants in Colorado: the Arapahoe Generating Station in Denver and the Cameo Generating Station east of Grand Junction. The utility’s decision to shut down the plants has been praised as the nation’s first voluntary effort to cut coal power generation in an attempt to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In its decision to support Xcel’s plan, the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) cited public health benefits and shared concerns about carbon emissions as major selling-points in the company’s groundbreaking proposal. The verdict marks a collective effort to move the state and its utilities toward the carbon reduction goals outlined in Governor Bill Ritter’s Climate Action Plan. The Plan calls for a 20% reduction in carbon emissions by 2020. Xcel is currently pursuing a proposal to replace the combined 229 MW of coal power with 850 MW of wind power and a 200 MW utility-scale solar power plant with storage capacity by 2015. Another key component of Xcel’s proposal, to build a 480 MW natural gas plant at the Arapahoe station, has been postponed pending approval by the Colorado PUC. Xcel’s plan signifies their long-term commitment to meet the growing needs of Colorado consumers in a clean, cost effective and technically feasible manner.
For more information, contact John Nielsen with Western Resource Advocates at
For more news coverage of Xcels's decision:
Denver Business Journal
Solve Climate Daily News
Denver Rocky Mountain News
Southwestern Power Group’s Bowie Power Station (Arizona)
In 2007, Southwestern Power Group abandoned its proposal to build a 600 MW coal gasification plant and instead chose to pursue an alternate proposal to build a natural gas plant. The company’s IGCC proposal drew criticism from residents in surrounding communities who eagerly voiced concerns about pollution, noise, water consumption, and the plant’s potential impacts on quality of life in the area. As indicated by Southwestern Power Group, a combination of public consensus, financing and regulatory uncertainty surrounding carbon legislation prompted their decision to alter the proposal.
For more information, contact Roger Clark with Grand Canyon Trust
Additional coverage about the Bowie Power Station from the Arizona Daily Star.
Sempra Energy (Nevada and Idaho)
In March 2006, Sempra Energy announced its decision to terminate its proposals to build a 1,400 MW coal plant in Nevada and a 600 MW facility in southern Idaho. The projects had generated firm opposition from impacted communities, environmental groups and public officials in both states. The company contends that their decision to withdraw the plant proposals is part of their strategic initiative to focus on natural gas and other ongoing projects. Sempra Energy’s decision was concurrent with a vote in the Republican dominated Idaho state legislature to impose a two-year moratorium on the construction of coal-fired power facilities in the state. Idaho Governor Butch Otter reaffirmed the states commitment to the moratorium in 2007; the state currently does not have any coal-fired power plants. The Nevada Clean Energy Campaign and the Idaho Conservation League worked in both states to facilitate opposition efforts and protect the interests of impacted communities.
For more information, contact Lydia Ball with the Nevada Clean Energy Campaign or the Idaho Conservation League
Idaho Power (Idaho)
Amid widespread public opposition, Idaho Power Company cancelled its plans to produce 250 MW from coal-fired power plants in 2007. The proposal was dropped shortly after Sempra Energy shelved a similar proposal to build a plant nearby in Jerome. Both companies cited growing resistance, increasing costs, finance uncertainty and permitting challenges as principal motives for its decision to withdraw the proposal. Idaho continues to show bi-partisan opposition to coal power plants in an effort to protect the state’s clean air and water resources. As an alternative, Idaho Power Company has opted to add 101 MW of wind power and 45.5 MW of geothermal power by 2011. Idaho Power also has plans to develop a natural gas turbine in Idaho by 2012.
For more information, contact the Idaho Conservation League
See the Idaho Statesman's coverage on this power plant.
Bull Mountain Power’s Roundup Plant (Montana)
Roundup was originally issued a permit for construction in 2003, which required that construction begin by July 2005. Although construction did not begin, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality extended the permit without public notification or review. In the summer of 2007, the company withdrew their air permit application due in part to the their failure to commence construction before the July 2005 deadline. The Montana Department of Environmental Quality officially revoked the air pollution permit for the Roundup plant in October 2007.
For more information, contact Anne Hedges with the Montana Environmental Information Center at 406-443-2520.
|
