For Immediate Release:
April 9, 2007 10:00AM EDT
For more information, contact:
John Goss, Indiana Wildlife Federation,
(317)-875-9453 or
Kurt Waltzer, Clean Air Task Force,
(614) 358-3912
Indiana Wildlife Federation/Clean Air Task Force Intervene in Duke/Vectren Coal Plant Case
Groups Cite Importance of Transforming Coal Use in the Midwest and Worldwide
Two conservation groups will seek to convince Indiana regulators to turn a proposed coal gasification power plant near Vincennes, Indiana into one of the first in the nation to capture carbon dioxide and achieve near total elimination of mercury emissions.
The Indiana Wildlife Federation (IWF) and the Clean Air Task Force (CATF) have intervened in a case before the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission that will replace Indiana’s oldest coal burning power plant at Edwardsport, with an advanced technology known as Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) – which turns coal into a cleaner gas instead of burning it.
“Indiana can lead the nation by replacing the outdated Edwardsport Plant and proving that coal gasification can dramatically reduce mercury damage to fish and wildlife, and address climate change” said John Goss, Executive Director of the Indiana Wildlife Federation. “We are advocating practical improvements to the mercury and carbon dioxide plans of the proposed Edwardsport plant that can be achieved with readily available and cost effective technology.”
While the two groups support coal gasification and the Edwardsport proposal as a necessary step for the deployment of IGCC technology worldwide, they will urge state regulators to improve Duke and Vectren’s plans by allowing cost recovery for:
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technology that will reduce more than 99% of the mercury from the facility, and prevents its re-emission;
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technology for CO2 capture and storage including an initial 20%- 30% capture for CO2 when the facility comes on line in 2011, and
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demonstrate the feasibility of disposal of non-recycled solid wastes in a lined landfill.
The groups also advocate for Duke to adopt company-wide coal purchasing standards to reduce environmental damage from coal mining.
The groups advocate full capture of CO2 by coal plants and see the partial capture at the Edwardsport plant as an important step in demonstrating the viability of both the carbon capture and the geologic storage technologies needed to protect the Earth from global warming. Accordingly, the groups will continue to work to further reduce greenhouse gas emissions from this facility, and from coal plants throughout Indiana and the U.S.
Both IWF and CATF support an economy wide program to achieve an 80% reduction of greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 - the level necessary to prevent the worst impacts of global climate change. The groups see the improved Edwardsport facility as one of many steps to create the modern, diversified energy portfolio necessary to meet these goals.
The groups noted that existing, older coal burning electricity plants emit particulate pollution responsible for thousands of avoidable deaths annually; cause smog, generate haze and acid rain; emit most of the nation’s manmade emissions of toxic mercury; contribute 40% of the nation’s carbon dioxide; and produce more than 100 million tons a year of toxic solid waste.
By contrast, the groups noted, IGCC plant emissions can rival the low emissions of a natural gas plant; capture virtually all mercury in a concentrated form that can be disposed of safely; substantially reduce the volume and toxicity of solid wastes, and can separate carbon dioxide in a form that can be stored underground for permanent storage. The groups noted the importance of rapidly commercializing this technology through full scale demonstration in Indiana and other states since China and India are rapidly expanding coal use, and the United States will continue to rely on coal for decades to come.
“If we don’t begin to divert world coal use to a radically cleaner technology allowing carbon capture and storage in the next decade, it’s ‘game over’ for our climate” said Kurt Waltzer Midwest Coordinator for the Clean Air Task Force’s Coal Transition Project.
“We need cleaner energy in Indiana – including renewable fuels and alternative sources like wind and solar in addition to conservation incentives and efficiency” said Goss. “However, Indiana and the world will probably be using coal for decades, and re-powering our old coal plants with cleaner technologies can’t happen too soon. With advanced carbon dioxide and mercury controls, the Edwardsport facility shows how coal can be a part of the solution”
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The Indiana Wildlife Federation has over 1600 members in Indiana committed to responsible use and management of Indiana’s natural resources. The federation has 54 local conservation clubs and hunting and fishing groups who are affiliate members. The Indiana group is also the state affiliate organization of the National Wildlife Federation. NWF has previously published research on the projected costs and impacts of mercury reduction for coal fired electric generation in Indiana and other Midwest states.
The Clean Air Task Force is a non profit environmental organization dedicated to protection of earth’s air quality and climate. The Task Force helped lead national efforts in the last ten years to reduce air and solid waste pollution from the nation’s coal plants, with a special focus on the Midwest. The Task Force’s Coal Transition project is based in Columbus, Ohio and Carbondale, Illinois.
