Coal

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Brayton Point plant to begin coal gasification

State decision allows Somerset Power plan to move forward



By Marc Munroe Dion
Herald News Staff Reporter
Mon Jan 07, 2008, 05:51 PM EST

Somerset, MA -
Somerset Power's plan to begin coal gasification at its plant can go forward after the state's environmental authority refused an advocacy group's request for a full review of the process.

The state’s Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs last week declined to order a Massachusetts Environmental Policy Act review of the plant. The Conservation Law Foundation, which lobbies for environmental issues in New England, asked for the review.

Ian Bowles, secretary for the Environmental Affairs office, told CLF in a letter that the gasification project will not exceed 25 tons of volatile emissions — the minimum amount required to trigger a review. The letter also said the review was not “essential to avoid or minimize danger to the environment,” another MEPA requirement.

The coal-fired Somerset Station plant was set to be shut down or powered with cleaner emissions by 2010 under the state's “Filthy Five” regulation, intended to cut down on the region’s global warming pollution.

Somerset Power, which is owned by NRG Energy, the 10th-largest American power company, wants to retrofit its 50 year-old boiler to allow for a plasma gasification process which breaks down coal into its component parts before converting it into energy. CLF says the process will produce 28 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions that could be avoided if the plant was closed. NRG Energy has said the foundation's pollution estimate is skewed because it compares emissions from gasification to a total shutdown of the plant, not to continued operation as a coal-fired facility.

The foundation asked the Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs for a “fail-safe” review, which would have triggered a full environmental review under MEPA. That process would have included an assessment of the project’s total greenhouse gas emissions and an evaluation of alternatives that would avoid or mitigate the carbon dioxide emissions.

“This is very disappointing,” said Shanna Vale, a staff attorney for CLF. “That is particularly true given this administration’s position on climate change. I thought they’d at least take a look. ... It’s a big step in the wrong direction.”

Vale added that the group is “evaluating our options about what to do next."

Somerset's three selectmen reiterated their support for the project.

“This is going to give us the cleanest fuel possible," said board Chairman William Meehan.

“I’m very appreciative that they’re going to move forward,” Selectwoman Eleanor Gagnon said. “This may not be the best environmental solution to pollution but it’s a giant step forward.”

“It’s the best technology we have right now,” said Selectman Lorne Lawless. “Coming from 17 years in the oil industry, I can tell you we have to start somewhere. We’re 20 to 25 years out on alternative energy.”

http://www.heraldnews.com/business/x603833431