OHIO WANTS WIND BUT WHEN? AS SPEW WORSENS & COAL KILLS

An Environmental Integrity Project (EIP) report shows 2007 U.S. greenhouse gas emissions increased 2.9% over 2006. Ohio ranked second in the nation after Texas.

Melissa McHenry, spokeswoman, Ohio’s American Electric Power (AEP) (owner/operator of 25 coal-burning power plants in nine states), on Ohio’s 2.8% increase in CO2 emissions: "…we also saw a 3.6 percent increase in electricity demand." She added that AEP is investing in wind generation and purchasing carbon "offsets."

Funny thing about that wind generation: Ohio Governor Ted Strickland has been pushing his legislature to adopt a Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) to incentivize the building of renewables in general and wind in particular. The idea behind an RES is that it assures New Energy producers of sales for all the New Energy they can develop by putting requirements to use it on the state’s utilities.

Recently wind energy developers Horizon Wind Energy, Iberdrola Renewables and Invenergy Wind sent letters to Strickland expressing readiness to invest $2.7 billion on Ohio wind installations if they get assurances there will be a market for wind power. The companies asked the governor to support Ohio House Speaker Jon Husted’s RES.

Husted’s RES calls for Ohio to obtain 25% of its electricity from New Energy sources by 2025. Strickland is good with that. He just doesn’t think New Energy industries need to get started before 2015. Governor Strickland’s position is curious. He wants to incentivize New Energy but not until 2015?

An editorial in the Akron Beacon Journal asks: “…Want to diversify the state's energy portfolio and create jobs in the process? Then listen to the wind energy developers and do what is necessary to encourage expansion of their industry.” What is Governor Strickland waiting for? Both poles to melt? The companies are ready. The legislature is ready. Incentivize wind now or keep choking on emissions.

In a related story, the federal Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) announced it will fine Murray Energy for safety violations in its mines.

Subsequent to the Willow Creek coal mine disaster in 2000 (in which two miners were killed) but before the Crandall Canyon disaster of last year, Murray Energy was cited for safety violations. Murray Energy’s response? They complained about "overzealous" enforcement.

Eight miners died at Crandall Canyon. Murray Energy has now been fined over $400,000, almost the maximum penalty. The fine is a drop in the bucket compared to a coal mining operation’s overhead.

Mike Dalpiaz, executive, United Mine Workers of America: "…to have as many [flagrant violation notices] as [Murray] has in one mine in such a short time is unbelievable."

How is that a related story? U.S. energy demand is rapidly rising. The nation has the opportunity to choose whether to build a New Energy infrastructure to meet the needs of the new century or to keep digging the Old Energy hole it is now in deeper and deeper. Coal is the wrong choice for Ohio and the wrong choice for the country for a variety of reasons.

Wind and other New Energies offer freedom from the shameful environmental and human degradations of coal, freedom from oil-and-gas dependence and freedom from worsening emissions. Ohio has the opportunity to create the kind of policy that supports New Energy. All it needs is the political will.

Want to cut greenhouse gas emissions? (click to enlarge)

Listen to the wind; Ted Strickland wants an Ohio powered by alternative energy. Will the Governor embrace the incentives required to get there?
Editorial, March 24, 2008 (Akron Beacon Journal)
and
Power Plant CO2 Increases by 3 Percent
H. Josef Hebert, March 19, 2008 (AP)
and
MSHA fines Murray Energy $420k for ‘flagrantly’ violating safety laws
Mike Gorrell, March 21, 2008 (Salt Lake Tribune)

WHO
Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA) (Richard Stickler, director), Murray Energy Corp. and subsidiary Andalex Resources Inc., Mike Dalpiaz, executive, United Mine Workers of America; Environmental Integrity Project (EIP) (Eric Schaeffer, executive director); Ohio Governor Ted Strickland; Ohio House Speaker Jon Husted

Not a Top 10 Ohio wants to be in. (click to enlarge)

WHAT
- MSHA fined Murray Energy $420,300 for “flagrant” violations of safety laws. Similar violations led to mine disaster deaths before and after the violations.
- EIP analysis of government emissions figures for coal, natural gas and oil burning power plants showed an increase in GhG emissions of 2.9%.
- Both Governor Strickland and Speaker Husted advocate a Renewable Electricity Standard (RES) for Ohio requiring that the state’s utilities obtain 25% of their electricity from New Energy sources by 2025.

WHEN
- Citations were issued to Andalex on Oct. 26, 2006 and June 20, 2007,for violating standards to prevent mine fires and explosions.
- EIP emissions calculations based on 2006 and 2007 CO2 emissions from the Environmental Protection Agency and the federal Energy Information Administration.
- Governor Strickland proposes the RES not require any New Energy use before 2015. Speaker Husted believes it sensible to require 0.25% of the state’s electricity come from New Energy in the first year of the RES.

It's not a difficult choice. (click to enlarge)

WHERE
- The fines were for violations at the Tower mine in Carbon County, Utah.
- The violations were for similar conditions to those that caused explosions leading to deaths and injuries in the adjacent Willow Creek mine.
- EIP studied over 1000 power plants to reach its conclusions.
- Biggest 1-year increases: Texas, Georgia, Arizona, California, Pennsylvania.
- Biggest emitting states: Texas, 262 million tons; Ohio, 138.6 million tons; Florida, 134.5 million tons; Indiana, 132 million tons; and Pennsylvania, 123.6 million tons.
- States with the biggest CO2 emissions/megawatt-hour: North Dakota, Wyoming, Kentucky, Indiana and Utah.

WHY
- Maximum possible fine: $440,000.
- Violations: Accumulation of hydraulic oil; fine coal particles covering electric equipment; excessive amounts of potentially explosive coal dust building up on conveyor belts. Coal dust buildup, causing “gassy” mine, led to the Willow Creek explosions.
- EIP emissions calculations factored in a variety of factors including weather and economic growth/decline. Ex: President Bush’s claim of a 1.3% decline in U.S. emissions from 2005 to 2006 was largely due to a mild winter.
- Major wind energy producers would begin working right away on $2.7 billion in Ohio installations with an RES assuring their electricity be purchased, which Husted’s RES would do. Strickland’s will also bring the action to Ohio – in 2015.

There difference between the orange line and the blue line might be the well-being of earth. (click to enlarge)

QUOTES
- Richard Stickler, director, MSHA: "Mine operators that repeatedly violate mine safety standards must be held accountable for their actions…"
- Dalpiaz, United Mine Workers: "…[Coal dust accumulations in a gassy mine are]… just like gunpowder. . . It just makes a big powder keg in the mine."
- Eric Schaeffer, executive director, EIP: "Carbon emissions actually increased faster than (electricity) demand…The amount that we're emitting today makes any long-term (reduction) goals that much harder to reach…"
- Bill Sang, climate issues director, Edison Electric Institute: "We think as much as two-thirds of the (CO2) increase was due to increased demand for electricity…"
- Akron Beacon Journal editorial: “A struggling economically must be aggressive in pursuing opportunities, in particular those that appear suited to its strengths. Ohio already trails other states in chasing alternative energy sources. It cannot afford caution…”