Meigs power plant gets permit

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Orange and Brown
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Meigs power plant gets permit

Post by Orange and Brown »

WRITTEN BY MIKE LUDWIG
THURSDAY, 15 OCTOBER 2009 09:12

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (OEPA) has issued the final critical permit for a coal-burning power plant proposed in southern Meigs County, and construction of the plant could begin this winter despite legal challenges from environmental groups.

The permit, an air permit-to-install that sets air pollution limits for the plant, was originally issued on Feb. 7, 2008. The permit then fell under a federal court ruling requiring the OEPA to revise the permit, set new emission limits based on “maximum available control technology,” and require permit applicant AMP (American Municipal Power) to install a carbon-injection system to further limit emissions of hazardous pollutants.

“Following a federal court decision rendered after the 2008 permit was issued, AMP has worked with Ohio EPA to determine whether or not even more emissions reductions were achievable,” said AMP spokesperson Jolene Thompson. “The results of this process have lead to additional reductions, including a 25 percent reduction in the allowable mercury emission limit.”

The National Resource Defense Council (NRDC) and other environmental groups appealed the air permit and another pollution discharge permit.

Ohio law allows AMP to “continue development” of the $3.2 billion power plant during the appeals process, and the non-profit utility company intends to do so, according to a release.

Environmental activists opposing the plant have voiced concerns about allowing more mercury and greenhouse-gas emissions in an area that is already home to heavy industry, chemical plants and several coal-burning power plants.

A state appeals commission ruled against the NRDC and its allies this summer and issued a summary judgment stating that the EPA is not required set limits on carbon dioxide, a well-known greenhouse gas.

The final permit includes tighter restrictions on pollutants such as mercury and sulfur dioxide, but does not include a limit on carbon-dioxide emissions.

A hearing on the air permit appeal is set for Dec. 1.

Four power plants in Ohio and West Virginia burn coal within approximately 10 miles from the site near Letart Falls where AMP wants to build its 1,000-megawatt facility.


Shazbot
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Re: Meigs power plant gets permit

Post by Shazbot »

unfortunately this isn't going to happen.....article from the columbus dispatch


Costs doom plans for Ohio River power plant
Company might consider building one that's gas-fired
Thursday, November 26, 2009 3:29 AM
By Spencer Hunt

THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Plans to build a huge coal-fired power plant along the Ohio River in Meigs County have gone up in smoke.

American Municipal Power, based in Columbus, announced cancellation of the project yesterday.

It's been a bad few years for coal, with dozens of power-plant projects canceled nationwide.

In this case, a contractor told American Municipal Power this month that the cost to build the 1,000-megawatt plant would be about 37 percent higher than the most-recent estimate, $3.25 billion.

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The nonprofit company supplies power to Westerville, Cleveland and 74 other Ohio communities. The company said in a written statement that it will explore development of a natural gas-fired power plant, though where and when were not clear. The company has bought 1,200 acres near Letart Falls in Meigs County.

The statement described the move as the "best economic decision" for the company and its customers. The company did not return calls for comment.

The project's cancellation came as a blow to Meigs County officials eager to attract new industries.

"We're deeply disappointed about what's happened," said Perry Varnadoe, the county's economic development director.

He estimated that the plant would have created as many as 490 permanent jobs in the area and about $20 million in annual property-tax revenue.

The project had the support of state officials, who approved a $30 million low-interest loan for it in June.

Environmentalists, who opposed the plant as too expensive for its customers and too dirty for the environment declared victory.

"This shouldn't have been unexpected," said Sandy Buchanan, director of Ohio Citizen Action. "Citizens groups and environmentalists have been warning them for the last two years how expensive it would be."

The groups argued that rising construction costs and the likelihood of new federal limits on carbon-dioxide emissions to combat global warming would inflate the plant's overall price and make its electricity too expensive.

The plant would have released about 7.5 million tons of carbon dioxide a year.

Similar issues have scuttled efforts to build other coal-fired plants nationwide. The Sierra Club says that plans to build 108 other such plants have been dropped.

The Natural Resources Defense Council and Sierra Club had filed legal challenges of limits on smog and acid-rain pollutants set by state-approved clean-air permits, arguing that they should be lower.

American Municipal Power's statement said the opposition had nothing to do with the decision to pull the plug.

"This project compared favorably to the market until the most recent target price in November," said Mark Gerken, the company's president and CEO.

Varnadoe said he's not certain that a natural-gas plant will be built there.

"We've discussed that with them this morning, but this is very early," he said. "They have a wonderful site that they own here in the county."

shunt@dispatch.com


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Eagle82
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Re: Meigs power plant gets permit

Post by Eagle82 »

For us here in Meigs County we get shafted again. :roll:


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