By investing as little as $11 million a year in conservation and renewable sources, East Kentucky Power Cooperative could eliminate the need for a half-billion-dollar coal-fired generating plant it proposes to build in Clark County, three environmental groups claim.
EKPC hopes to start construction next year on the facility at Trapp, just across the Kentucky River from Madison County.
At a Thursday press conference in Lexington, the Berea-based Kentucky Energy Foundation, along with Kentuckians for the Commonwealth and the Sierra Club, outlined a program they say could serve consumer needs while emitting no carbon dioxide or other pollutants into the air.
Winchester-based EKPC supplies power to 16 non-profit distribution cooperatives, including Bluegrass Energy and Clark Energy, which serve large sections of Madison County. About 500,000 homes, farms and businesses get their electricity from EKPC, Nick Comer, the cooperative’s spokesperson, said Friday.
Electricity consumption in EKPC’s service region as been growing 3 percent annually — more than the national average — and the new plant would provide its members with a “reliable, affordable” source of power for the foreseeable future, Comer said.
The plant would use “clean-coal,” fluidized-bed technology that “drastically” reduces the emission of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and mercury, he said.
EKPC still needs approval from the Kentucky Division of Air Quality and the U.S. Rural Utility Service before it can start construction. The Kentucky Public Service Commission already has given its approval. EKPC hopes to start construction in 2009 and put the plant on-line in 2012.
“Fluidized-bed combustion is proven technology,” Comer said. “It’s already in use at the E.A. “Ned” Gilbert Power Plant at Spurlock Station in Mason County.” (Gilbert, who lives in Berea and still serves on the Bluegrass Energy board, was its chair for more than 34 years.)
Even if fluidized-bed combustion eliminated all sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and mercury emissions — and the environmentalists question its effectiveness — it does not reduce the release of carbon dioxide, which is blamed for a rise in global temperatures, said Elizabeth Crowe of the Kentucky Environmental foundation.
Comer said EKPC keeps “close watch on the potential for regulation of carbon emissions anytime we’re looking at meeting future energy needs.” The cooperative already uses some alternative energy sources and its distribution cooperatives’ incentive programs have for years encouraged conservation with incentives for appliance replacement and building insulation. At their annual meetings, the cooperatives give away thousands of fluorescent light bulbs.
EKPC captures methane — a greenhouse gas — from five Kentucky landfills and burns it to produce electricity. The methane otherwise would escape into the atmosphere. EKPC also distributes electricity from hydroelectric generators in the Laurel River and Wolf Creek Dams.
The environmental groups’ alternatives, outlined in a 46-page volume, include ambitious conservation programs as well as more emphasis or renewable sources.
“We need a sincere commitment to conservation from EKPC and not just window dressing,” Crowe said.
The environmentalists cite conservation as the quickest and most cost-effective” way to reduce adverse by-products of electricity production. Nearly a third of Kentucky’s electricity consumption could be eliminated if their conservation plan were implemented, they said.
They recommend replacing inefficient water heaters, refrigerators, air conditioners, light bulbs and heat pumps as well as installation of programmable thermostats.
The upfront impact of appliance replacement on low-income households could be minimized if the cooperative adopted a financing plan similar to New Hampshire Electric Cooperative’s Pay As You Save program, they said. Repayment would be part of members’ electric bills and would be offset by projected savings.
Savings to EKPC’s industrial/commercial members could be realized through high-efficiency motors, variable-speed devices and air conditioner tune-ups.
Solar water heaters supplemented by conventional heaters in both homes and businesses such as motels could substantially reduce electricity demand, they said.
Home solar systems cost from $3,000 to $4,000 with commercial systems running about $24,000. The systems would pay for themselves over their 25-year lifetimes. Again, initial costs could be minimized if financed through the cooperatives, the environmental groups said.
Surrounding states are all developing wind-powered generating systems, and the environmentalists want Kentucky to catch the wind as well. West Virginia’s Appalachian Power Co. has begun purchasing electricity generated by wind farms in Illinois.
The cost of such programs, estimated at $11 million annually, would be less than the settlements that EKPC has had to pay in recent years for violating federal environmental standards, Crowe said.
In the past two years, EKPC paid an $11.4 million settlement to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, she said. An earlier settlement cost the cooperative $47 million.
In addition to the benefits to rate payers and the environment, less reliance on coal-fire power generation would substantially improved public health, Crowe said.
Bill Robinson can be reached at brobinson@richmondregister.com or at 623-1669, Ext. 267.
Local News
Environmentalists propose alternative to Clark County coal-fire generator
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Friday at library : Lecturer to portray founder of Berea
John G. Fee, abolitionist and founder of both Berea and Berea College, will be portrayed Friday night by performer Obadiah Ewing-Roush as part of Kentucky Humanities Council Chautauqua performance series at the Madison County Public Library. There is no charge to attend the 7 p.m. event.
As the son of a slave-holding father, Fee witnessed firsthand the benefits of having slaves and the profits that could be made from their labor. When he graduated from college and enrolled in Lane Theological Seminary, he began to understand the inherent wrong and destructiveness of slavery. -
Berea woman dies Tuesday in Laurel County crash
A Berea woman, Tommie Johnson, 60, died Tuesday evening in a Laurel County crash, according to the the Laurel Sheriff’s Office.
The accident took place about 7 p.m. at the junction of Maple Grove Road and KY 363 south of London, as Johnson was attempting to turn onto the state highway.
Laurel County Chief Deputy Eddy Sizemore said Johnson’s Chevrolet Cavalier pulled out in front of a Dodge Durango driven by Charles Joseph, 19, that was traveling south on KY 363.
After being extricated from her vehicle, Johnson was transported to St. Joseph-London hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Joseph also was transported to the hospital, where he was treated for minor injuries, according to the accident report. -
Finally February
Ian Rosser, an Eastern Kentucky University student from Lexington, clears snow from his car parked on campus Wednesday
morning after about an inch of snow fell in Richmond. Temperatures are forcast to be in the upper 40s today. Kentucky has seen a lot of rain in the past few months, as was predicted by the Farmer's Almanac, but very little snow has fallen. -
Volunteers needed for equine therapy
The Appalachian Foothills Therapeutic Equestrian Center will be hosting two, one-day volunteer training workshops for those interested in helping others with special needs.
The volunteer orientation days will be Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., but only one day of training is required, according to Mark Martin who co-owns Appalachian Foothills Therapeutic Equestrian Center (AFTEC) with his wife Cheryl.
The all-volunteer organization, which is based in Jackson County, uses horses to help humans deal with physical and emotional challenges. -
Man accused of holding samurai sword to girlfriend’s throat
A Madison grand jury will hear the case of a man accused of threatening to cut his girlfriend’s head off, and attacking her father with a samurai sword.
Russell M. Masters, 42, of Richmond, is charged with two counts of first-degree wanton endangerment, which is a Class D felony, and fourth-degree assault (domestic violence with minor injury) and resisting arrest, which both are Class A misdemeanors. Masters could receive one to five years in prison on each wanton endangerment charge, and the misdemeanors both carry a maximum sentence of one year in jail. -
Arrest made in connection with stolen jewelry, computer
Richmond police have made an arrest in connection with property stolen from two homes last fall.
A woman reported to police Monday that she had discovered several items that were missing from her home on South Killarney Drive and her grandmother’s home on Raintree Drive, according to Richmond Police Chief Larry Brock. The items were a set of gold hoop earrings, a white Sony Vaio laptop, a yellow gold heart pendant, a gold tennis bracelet and a ladies’ wedding band with a diamond setting.
The complainant said the belongings had gone missing sometime between August and October. -
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Voices of Berea business owners upset about upcoming construction on US 25 will be taken to the state level, according to city administrator Randy Stone.
Several people operating businesses along a section of US 25 gave comments Tuesday to the Berea City Council, asking them reconsider plans to widen the road to five lanes.
The design is a five-lane highway with a center turn lane and a 10-foot shared use path on one side and a 5-foot sidewalk on the other side. -
Grand jury to hear copper theft case
The attorney for a man accused of stealing copper from a handful of electric poles questioned his identification as the same person who took copper from 32 poles two days earlier.
Public defender Meena Mohanty questioned Richmond police officer Nicholas Duvall during a preliminary hearing Wednesday in Madison District Court. Her client, Jeffrey W. Nester, 46, of Fourth Street, was arrested in connection with a Jan. 23 copper theft. He is charged with second-degree criminal mischief, theft by unlawful taking, possession of burglary tools and failure to notify address change to the Department of Transportation. These charges are all misdemeanors that, at most, carry a sentence of one year in prison. -
Judge weighs constitutionality of legislative redistricting
Kentucky’s deadline for filing to run for legislative seats was in flux on Monday because a judge did not immediately rule on a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of newly redrawn district boundaries.
Franklin County Circuit Judge Phillip Shepherd said he expects to enter a ruling in the case by mid-week.
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Couple recovering from injuries suffered in weekend house fire
A couple was hospitalized after their home was set ablaze Sunday by a spark from a cigar, according to a county fire official.
County Fire Chief Jim Cox said the city and county fire departments were called to the home at 111 Concord Road in the early afternoon. Waco Volunteer Fire Department and the Richmond Fire Department also responded.
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