Sparks were flying in Denver yesterday. Coal brought its big guns to a Colorado Public Utilities hearing. The oil and gas industry brought their big guns. Xcel Energy brought theirs. Environmentalists… The subject was the implementation of the Clean Air-Clean Jobs Act, especially its cost as reflected on consumer’s utility bills.
This act, sponsored by both Democrats and Republicans, and signed into law on April 19, 2009, requires that Xcel energy reduce its emission of nitrogen oxide by 80% by 2017. Xcel was directed to work with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to come up with a plan to meet the required reduction of these emissions, giving special consideration to converting old coal-fired plants to natural gas.
The Colorado Mining Association testified that Xcel wasn’t accurately predicting the impact of this conversion on the price of electricity used by business and consumers. The basis of this argument is that natural gas prices fluctuate fairly often and wildly, while the price of coal is stable. They then projected that this bill, which has already been signed into law, would cause Colorado to lose from 30,000 to 120,000 jobs. Xcel Energy predicts that six coal miners would lose their jobs. (My source for that number is Fred Eggleston, an Xcel representative and was in a one-on-one conversation at the Club 20 steak fry.)
Nobody knows where the Colorado Mining Association came up with the lost jobs number, because they did not reveal their methodology at the hearing. They say it includes the trickle-down effect from other industries. However, a fact sheet about coal at their website says that Colorado has 2,450 coal workers. There must be a lot of trickle-down, because it has to account for 98% of the number they are throwing around. According to that same fact sheet, about 2/3 of the coal produced in Colorado is shipped to other states. Colorado coal is desirable because it is cleaner. So at least 2/3 of the coal workers can expect to keep their jobs; they will be mining coal to be shipped to other states.
Xcel says that their plan will require new construction investment of $1.3 billion over the next 12 years. That would put construction workers back to work. It would reduce sulfur emissions by 84%, mercury emissions by 85%, and help Colorado meet its goal of a 20% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 20%.
Environmentalists like this bill because of the reduction in emissions. Nitrogen Oxides, as an example, can cause or make worse emphysema, asthma, or heart disease leading to increased hospital visits.
Bottom line: I favor any attempt to reduce the emission of toxins into our air supply. The conversion from carbon based fuels to green energy won’t take place over-night. Coal and Natural Gas are both important to the state. Stop pitting one against the other. And don’t believe everything you read from combatants without doing some fact checking. It all may be hype just to make you vote with your emotions instead of with your head.
Homework:
Hearing on Xcel Conversion from Coal to Natural Gas
Press Release on Day Bill Signed
Why We Care About NO emmissions
Mother Goose Story of Coal
Colorado Mining Association
CMA Fact Sheet About Coal
This act, sponsored by both Democrats and Republicans, and signed into law on April 19, 2009, requires that Xcel energy reduce its emission of nitrogen oxide by 80% by 2017. Xcel was directed to work with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment to come up with a plan to meet the required reduction of these emissions, giving special consideration to converting old coal-fired plants to natural gas.
The Colorado Mining Association testified that Xcel wasn’t accurately predicting the impact of this conversion on the price of electricity used by business and consumers. The basis of this argument is that natural gas prices fluctuate fairly often and wildly, while the price of coal is stable. They then projected that this bill, which has already been signed into law, would cause Colorado to lose from 30,000 to 120,000 jobs. Xcel Energy predicts that six coal miners would lose their jobs. (My source for that number is Fred Eggleston, an Xcel representative and was in a one-on-one conversation at the Club 20 steak fry.)
Nobody knows where the Colorado Mining Association came up with the lost jobs number, because they did not reveal their methodology at the hearing. They say it includes the trickle-down effect from other industries. However, a fact sheet about coal at their website says that Colorado has 2,450 coal workers. There must be a lot of trickle-down, because it has to account for 98% of the number they are throwing around. According to that same fact sheet, about 2/3 of the coal produced in Colorado is shipped to other states. Colorado coal is desirable because it is cleaner. So at least 2/3 of the coal workers can expect to keep their jobs; they will be mining coal to be shipped to other states.
Xcel says that their plan will require new construction investment of $1.3 billion over the next 12 years. That would put construction workers back to work. It would reduce sulfur emissions by 84%, mercury emissions by 85%, and help Colorado meet its goal of a 20% reduction in carbon dioxide emissions by 20%.
Environmentalists like this bill because of the reduction in emissions. Nitrogen Oxides, as an example, can cause or make worse emphysema, asthma, or heart disease leading to increased hospital visits.
Bottom line: I favor any attempt to reduce the emission of toxins into our air supply. The conversion from carbon based fuels to green energy won’t take place over-night. Coal and Natural Gas are both important to the state. Stop pitting one against the other. And don’t believe everything you read from combatants without doing some fact checking. It all may be hype just to make you vote with your emotions instead of with your head.
Homework:
Hearing on Xcel Conversion from Coal to Natural Gas
Press Release on Day Bill Signed
Why We Care About NO emmissions
Mother Goose Story of Coal
Colorado Mining Association
CMA Fact Sheet About Coal
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