TXU Promises To Cut Emissions 20% While Building 11 New Coal Plants

[hatrack]

Not that CO2 would be among the emissions cut, but you knew that already . . .

TXU on Friday revealed the first details of how it plans to cut emissions by 20 percent while building 11 new coal-burning power units. The Dallas-based company filed a permit application with the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality to add pollution-control equipment to its existing Martin Lake coal plant in Rusk County. That plant has three coal-burning units now and would add a fourth under TXU's plans.

The Martin Lake retrofit is the first of three that TXU has promised as part of its new coal strategy. Similar announcements are expected by the year's end for the three-unit Monticello plant in Titus County and the two-unit Big Brown plant in Freestone County. Each of those plants is to add one unit.

Until Friday, TXU had not specified how it would cut emissions at its existing coal plants, but it had pledged to sign a voluntary, binding agreement with the state for the 20 percent cut. TXU said it plans to spend $500 million on the retrofits for all its existing coal plants, saying the combination of emissions reductions and new plants would boost power supplies while improving air quality. "Today's announcement is another step forward in meeting TXU's 20 percent emissions reduction commitment," company spokeswoman Kim Morgan said.

Critics dispute TXU's clean-air pledge, contending that emissions would worsen Dallas-Fort Worth air quality on days when the wind blows from areas with the biggest pollution concentrations. They also note that the new plants would increase emissions of carbon dioxide, the chief manmade factor in global warming. Carbon dioxide emissions are not currently regulated. "These emission reductions are a fraction of what we need in this state," said Tom "Smitty" Smith of the consumer advocacy group Public Citizen.

EDIT

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-txupermit_18met.ART.North.Edition1.3f08107.html

[acmejack]

1. I don't believe a word they say.

They are known to renign on agreements like this little gem with Alcoa and the citizens of Rockdale.

snip>

n the latest move in a battle over a Central Texas coal-burning power plant, the federal government appears to be willing to allow Alcoa Inc. and TXU Corp. to use an old air permit at the site, instead of having to apply for a new, stricter permit that citizens groups have demanded.

The government's position, laid out in a motion earlier this week in federal court, opens the way for a deal between the aluminum giant and the state's largest energy company for control of the plant, which powers an aluminum smelting operation in Rockdale, about 60 miles northeast of Austin.

snip>
Earlier this decade, the citizens and environmental groups accused Alcoa in a lawsuit of illegally releasing more than 1 million tons of air pollution from the plant during a 17-year period.

As part of the settlement reached in 2003, Alcoa was required to pay a $1.5 million fine; spend $2.5 million on environmental mitigation projects in Central Texas; and replace its three coal-powered generating units at the plant with a new single, cleaner-burning, coal-powered unit by 2007.

http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/11/18/18alcoa.html

edit to add link and article snip

[hatrack]

2. Yes, how long before "unexpected cost overruns" force them to cut back

Once they have the permits in hand, that is . . .

[acmejack]

3. Yes they managed to screw the folks at the Smelter.

Money in Texas talks, it is how business is done. You bribe, er, buy, er, negotiate your way to an accomodation.