Within the Chesapeake Climate Action Network's report on an Air Pollution Control Board hearing in Alexandria comes this juicy little nugget: Within the Chesapeake Climate Action Network's report on an Air Pollution Control Board hearing in Alexandria comes this juicy little nugget:
The presentation from Dominion to the Board included a large section about CCS, carbon capture and sequestration, and how compatible the Wise County plant may be, if the technology one day becomes available at a cost-effective price, with CCS and how that should mean that Virginians should not worry about this plant’s estimated 5.4 million tons of annual CO2 emissions. When asked when we could expect the plant to start to turn CCS compatibility into CCS reality, the Dominion speaker said, “decades.”
When asked where the sequestered carbon would be stored if it could be captured, the Dominion speaker replied, “there is great potential for storage in abandoned mines in Dickenson County, Virginia.” Board member: “Potential, what does that mean?” Dominion: “we are in the process of doing studies with Virginia Tech that should determine the Dickenson county site suitability — we will know for sure in 2018.”
So, what Dominion is basically saying is: “in 10 years we will know whether we can adequately store sequestered carbon in Virginia, and maybe a few decades after that we will figure out whether we can actually sequester carbon…”
Look, we all want affordable carbon capture and storage technology. Some of the best minds at Virginia Tech are working on it right now. But even Dominion admits it's still "decades" away, while affordable solar, wind, and tidal power technology are available right now. Green-collar jobs are springing up all over the country in states with mandatory renewable portfolio standards, including bordering states like Maryland and North Carolina.
But here in Virginia? We don't care what other states do, or what carbon-limiting legislation Congress will pass within the next year, or whether even China has a 20% RPS. We built this coal-fired Titanic, and we're going down with the ship!
The Commonwealth will continue to face a need for greater power generation. Energy conservation is the first practice that we must embrace to help offset increasing demands. However, conservation alone will not be the sole answer to meet our needs. We must have additional generation capacity.The utility legislation Virginia enacted last year promotes generation that will results in fewer greenhouse gas emissions. The legislation gives incentives for utilities to use nuclear, renewable, and carbon-capture compatible clean-coal generation technologies.
To help meet and provide for future electricity needs consistent with this policy direction, Virginia's electric utilities are working on new renewable, nuclear, and carbon-capture plants. Dominion is joining in developing wind power generation and, as you point out, is in the process of obtaining permits for the construction of a new clean-coal and renewable fueled power plant in Southwest Virginia. The design calls for the station to use coal, coal waste, and biomass in an advanced circulating fluidized bed boiler (CFB). The CFB technology was chosen because it is a proven clean-coal technology and reduces environmental impact. It allows for the co-firing of up to 20% biomass.
Another environmental advantage is that the project's design is compatible with emerging carbon capture opportunities. The design includes the capability to install carbon capture technology when it becomes commercially available. Dominion is also partnering with the Virginia Center for Coal and Energy Research at Virginia Tech to demonstrate carbon sequestration in nearby unminable coal seams.
As additional new generation plants are planned and permitted, we will continue to seek the most energy efficient means possible to create new energy supplies, as well as continue to promote greener sources of energy. The State Corporation Commission and the Department of Environmental Quality want to make sure in their permitting processes that all new generating facilities are energy efficient and minimize environmental impacts to the greatest extent possible.
Energy policy is a key concern for the Governor, and our state is engaged in a number of activities focused on responsible development and use of our energy resources. The Virginia Energy Plan (http://dmme.virginia.gov/VAEnergyPlan), released last year, provides additional details about the Governor's proposed conservation efforts, alternative-energy research and development, and energy production needs. One of the recommendations within the Plan was to create a Commission on Climate Change to make a more comprehensive assessment of greenhouse gas issues and develop a plan to reach a greenhouse gas emission reduction goal. Governor Kaine appointed members to this Commission last December. Virginia also recently joined The Climate Registry (http://www.theclimateregistry.org/), which will allow the Commonwealth to work with other states to develop a common accounting system to track greenhouse gas emissions.
Regarding existing coal-fired power plants, efforts are underway to further reduce emissions and other environmental impacts. New air regulations, taking effect in 2009 and 2010, will require substantial emission cleanup beyond current control requirements.
Thank you for sharing your concerns on these important issues.
Sincerely,
George P. Willis
In addition, according to the Roanoke Times, the plant will be allowed to release more than 12,500 tons of pollution each year, including nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide, the latter a cause of serious breathing problems for people with respiratory illnesses.
Last but not least, the plant will spew 70 pounds of mercury a year into Virginia's air.
I think it's all just a Rube Goldberg pipe dream to try to justify digging up more coal and building more plants to burn it.