Indiana Wildlife Federation And Clean Air Task Force Say Environmental Benefits Of Duke Power Plant Outweigh Added Cost
Carbondale, IL - "We support the Edwardsport project because it is nationally important in the effort to prevent global warming," said John Goss, Executive Director of the Indiana Wildlife Federation. "It could be one of the first coal power plants in the nation to capture and store large quantities of climate-changing carbon dioxide."
"Sadly, prices for many goods are rising these days, from food to gasoline," said John Thompson, Director of the Coal Transition Project of the Clean Air Task Force. "The costs of Edwardsport have also risen. This plant is worth the added plant cost. It can provide electricity and pioneer new technology needed to prevent global warming."
The coal gasification technology at Edwardsport makes deep cuts in mercury, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen emissions. It also is the least expensive path for adding carbon dioxide capture equipment to a coal plant, according to the two groups.
Duke's petition to the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission seeks funds to pay for engineering studies needed for capturing and storing carbon dioxide. In later proceedings, the Commission could order the installation of this equipment based upon these studies.
During the initial proceeding, Duke proposed cost and feasibility studies on capturing approximately 18% of the CO2 emission from the facility, and the Commission ordered Duke to seek authority for those cost and feasibility studies by May 2008
The organizations urge the IURC to approve Duke's revised cost estimate and authorize Duke to proceed with cost and feasibility studies to incorporate carbon capture technology into the plant.
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.
SOURCE: Duke Power Plant