I am speaking here as an individual and not as the Mayor of Kalama.
The proposed methanol refinery will be the third attempt to put a speculative fossil fuel facility at that site. The two previous facilities that failed there should be a warning to c...↓
The first attempt was a coal-gasification facility in 2006 called the Pacific Mountain Energy Center.
Environmental sales pitch-
"Clean alternative to conventional coal plants. 20 to 25% less CO2."
"Clean, base-load generation to the Pacific Northwest."
"Environmentally friendly alternative to conventional coal-burning power plants and says the region will need the plant's energy."- Energy Plant Soar Costs from Estimate-
"By stripping out soot and other regulated pollutants, Energy Northwest bills the plant as a clean alternative to conventional coal plants -Proposed Kalama Coal Plant to Receive First Public Hearing-
Unlike conventional coal plants that burn coal, Energy Northwest says the facility would produce "a clean-burning, hydrogen-rich synthesis gas from petroleum coke, coal or other solid feedstocks." The technology allows for the reduction or removal of carbon dioxide and pollutants often associated with power plant emissions."- Coal-"a 19th-century answer to a 21st-century problem-
According to Energy Northwest, regulated emissions from the complex are expected to rival, and potentially outperform, those of a natural gas plant. The clean-burning synthesis gas will be produced by gasifying, rather than burning, coal, pet coke (a byproduct of crude oil refining), and potentially other carbon-based feedstocks in a fully enclosed process. Shipping out - Vancouver Business Journal-
Energy Northwest officials say the new power plant, called the Pacific Mountain Energy Center, "will be a valuable tool in advancing nationwide efforts to develop permanent in-ground carbon storage."-Enviros Challenge Proposed Coal Gasification-
The utility is part of the Big Sky Carbon Sequestration Partnership, an effort funded by the U.S. Department of Energy to develop and promote permanent, large-scale carbon dioxide sequestration.- Enviros Challenge Proposed Coal Gasification Power Plant-
Energy Northwest Project Manager Ted Beatty said the new facility would have a beneficial impact on wind power development. "Adding additional full-time power from a facility like Pacific Mountain Energy Center will allow the integration of more wind, solar, and other intermittent power.-Enviros Challenge Proposed Coal Gasification Power Plant-
Spend $10 million to offset the emissions at other plants in the state
Spend $50 million to research possible ways to sequester the carbon dioxide into the ground, such as injecting the gas into a saline aquifer in Cowlitz County. If they couldn't do so, then they might have to consider buying and shutting down a conventional Western coal plant.
A lot of these points are the new norm when it comes to fossil fuel infrastructure, better here than somewhere else.
In November 2007, EFSEC voted unanimously to reject the plant because they had concerns that if they actually would follow through on the promise of carbon sequestration. Kalama project, stating the applicant's statements about carbon sequestration, amounted to "a plan to make a plan."
The state attorney general's office called the plan "deficient" and "vague,"
The second endeavor in 2007 was to put a gas-fired gasification facility called the Kalama Energy Center.
Promises:
The power can be a good backup to wind energy.
The project was listed as a bright spot in Cowlitz County Commissioner George Raiter's 2012 "State of the County" address -TDN- Kalama natural gas power plant plans in jeopardy-
Why it failed:
Veresen announced it was pulling out of the project due to "market conditions,"-TDN- Kalama natural gas power plant plans in jeopardy-
Paoli said. He noted that natural gas prices are volatile, possibly undercutting the viability of the project.- TDN- Kalama natural gas plant power plans in jeopardy-
The two previous projects by energy companies should be a wake-up call to either look at our energy future needs or to make sure we don't get trapped into another speculative fossil fuel endeavor. We need to make sure we have the power to our local public utilities and to supply growth needs in the region and provide reliable backup service to renewable energy generation in the Pacific Northwest.
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