Wednesday, March 8, 2006

Bill for coal-fired plants moratorium draws wide support


By REBECCA MEANY
Express Staff Writer

Ed Smith has had his share of fights.

The mild-mannered Filer resident, along with his jovial wife, Phuong, have kicked up plenty of dust in the Magic Valley over the issue of "confined animal feeding operations."

Often, they and a few other CAFO opponents were the only ones making a ruckus.

Last week, however, a busload of like-minded people joined the Smiths on their way to testify before the Idaho Legislature on a broader environmental issue.

This time, their cause was a bill proposing a moratorium on certain coal-fired power plants in general, and, in particular, the one planned by Sempra Generation in Jerome County.

"The coal-fired power plant is an issue that got people's attention," Smith said as he waited out the two-hour ride to the Capitol. "There are ramifications that people don't know about yet. The moratorium, if it passes, and it should pass, will give us time to look at energy production. There are numerous sources of energy coming on line other than what's being offered by Sempra, which is old technology with Band-Aids. Why not give us more time to see if some of the less-polluting sources of energy do come on line? I don't think we're in that big of a hurry in Idaho to send power out of state."

San Diego-based Sempra Generation's 600-megawatt power plant proposed for a site nine miles northeast of Jerome would fall under the proposed moratorium.

More than 100 people attended a seven-hour public hearing Thursday, March 2, with the House Environment, Energy and Technology committee. The committee did not vote on the matter last week, nor was a vote scheduled as of Monday, but a vote is anticipated within a couple of weeks.

The bill labeled H689, introduced by Rep. Sharon Block, R-Twin Falls, would provide a two-year moratorium on the permitting, licensing or construction of certain coal-fired power plants.

"We, the citizens of Idaho, our families, our children and our way of life will be impacted by the decision you make," Block said in her opening remarks to the committee. "We are simply asking you to be certain you have all the information necessary before you make a decision that is so monumental to our lives."

Sempra officials did not attend the hearing. But two weeks ago, the company's manager of the Idaho project, Bruce McCulloch, told the House Resources and Conservation Committee that Sempra would take its business elsewhere if the Legislature passed Block's moratorium.

According to a report in the Twin Falls Times-News on Saturday, March 4, Magic Valley legislators also have requested that Sempra self-impose a one-year moratorium while the state works on an energy plan. Sempra spokesman Art Larson was quoted as saying the company "would certainly be willing to consider" it.

Besides imposing a moratorium, Block's bill would require the Idaho Public Utilities Commission to study the economic and environmental effects of coal-fired power plants, including issues of fuel supply, transportation, transmission, construction, local infrastructure, the economy, emissions, environmental effects, water rights and property taxes.

Sempra officials have said they'll be using technologies that will reduce nitrogen-oxide emissions by about 90 percent, particulate emissions by about 99.7 percent, sulfur dioxide by about 95 percent and mercury emissions by about 70 percent.

For retired soil scientist Stan Albee, of Buhl, that's not enough to ease his worry.

"There're two things I don't like. (One) is emissions introduced from the smoke stack when you have inversions in the Magic Valley," he said as the bus traversed the Magic Valley Thursday morning. "The other thing I don't like is having the Sempra plant over a world-class aquifer. Down the road, you'll have a lot better options."

Albee was one of several dozen people to hitch a ride to Boise aboard a Sun Valley Stages coach, paid for by the Idaho Rural Council and Idaho Conservation League.

"People in Idaho need to rethink this whole energy deal or we could end up being an energy industrial park for the whole U.S." Albee said. "We can do a lot better than Sempra."

Sempra supporters, however, say their plan has a lot of positives to offer the state.

"There will be a $30 million injection into the Idaho economy in terms of payroll," Boise economist John Church told the House committee.

He said millions of dollars in secondary revenue streams would be garnered from vehicle license fees, sales taxes and building materials.

"When you buy electricity from a plant outside the state, the taxes they pay are part of the electricity you pay for in Idaho," Church added. "You're essentially taking dollars out of your pocket and sending them out of state."

Comparing figures provided by parties on either side of the issue offers wildly varying estimates of the plant's potential impacts on the state.

"That's what we need a moratorium for, to get reliable numbers," said Rep. Leon Smith, R-Twin Falls.

Among concerns Block voiced to the committee were: How will the possible contaminants affect the health and well-being of Idahoans? How will the plant affect agriculture, livestock, dairy industries and aquaculture? How will it affect Idaho's water supply? How far will possible contaminants travel from a 600-foot smokestack? What will happen to Idaho's tourism industry?

"We are the third fastest growing state," Block said. "We understand we will need more power. (But) unregulated power will be sold to whoever will pay the most for it."

Although the majority of people who spoke at the hearing were in favor of the moratorium, representatives of small Idaho utilities were not.

"Consumer-owned power companies don't have the funds to build generation plants," said Ralph Williams, general manager of United Electric Co-op Inc. in Heyburn. "They need to partner with someone. We're fast approaching the point where load is surpassing supply. This is a huge problem for us and we're concerned about the future."

Sempra's proposed Jerome plant would provide enough electricity for as many as 600,000 homes, company officials have said.

Jim Powers, general manager of Raft River Rural Electric Cooperative Inc., echoed Williams' statement.

"Idaho needs to move toward energy independence," he said. "A moratorium would push Idaho in the wrong direction. Idaho needs an energy plan with a diverse mix of energy options."

That notion is reflected in Idaho Power's Integrated Resource Plan, a needs-assessment document. The 2004 IRP states a need for 500 megawatts of power from coal-fired generation—one of many sources.

But should coal even be included in the mix?

The Idaho chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics has its doubts.

"I'm here to request that this legislative body be careful about protecting health," said Dr. Jerry Hirschfeld, a Boise-based pediatrician representing the association. "We need to insist on a thorough investigation."

Bob Naerebout, executive director of the Idaho Dairymen's Association, spoke in support of the moratorium.

"It was very difficult to make this decision," he said. "Historically, we fight moratoriums, nor do we find pleasure putting Sempra in the same box people have put us as an industry in."

Stray voltage, potential water contamination and air pollution are some of the association's concerns.

The hearing was attended by two gubernatorial candidates, Jerry Brady, an Idaho Falls Democrat, and Dan Adamson, a Pocatello Republican, both of whom spoke in favor of the proposed moratorium.

Former Idaho Gov. John Evans, of Burley, also spoke out against placing the power plant in the Magic Valley.

"The danger of Sempra polluting the (Snake River Plain) aquifer is very high," Evans said. "The thousands of jobs farming has created is very important. Which industry is more important to the Magic Valley and Idaho? Agriculture is still southern Idaho's most important industry."

Evans said the state needs an energy plan that includes a siting authority to oversee where power plants are located.

Sen. Clint Stennett, D-Ketchum, has introduced a bill proposing a siting committee, but the bill is stalled in committee.

While bills are introduced, debated, approved or killed, Ed Smith will continue to fight for his side.

"It's a worthy cause to be involved in a process to help protect our environment and our future generations," he said. "This issue has galvanized a lot more people (than CAFOs). The Sempra issue will impact a large area—a multi-county area. Bad air quality will affect people of all parties."




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