Topic: Coal (5)
Lawsuit Against Duke Energy's Cliffside Coal Power Plant
Several related stories:
http://www.newsobserver.com/business/story/1144110.html
July 17, 2008
"CHARLOTTE - An environmental group asked a federal judge Wednesday to halt construction of a new coal-fired generator in Western North Carolina until Duke Energy proves that it is using the best technology to stop hazardous pollution."
http://www.charlotte.com/business/story/711915.html
July 14, 2008
"...Pollution drifting from its [TVA] coal-fired power plants, N.C. Attorney General Roy Cooper says, makes the nation's largest public power company a public nuisance. Cooper gets his chance to prove it today in a federal court in Asheville. ...Cooper wants TVA to install pollution controls similar to those North Carolina required of Duke Energy and Progress Energy in 2002. The estimated cost to TVA: $516 million a year. Reducing wind-blown pollutants from TVA plants in Tennessee, Alabama and Kentucky would prevent 99 premature deaths, 19,000 asthma attacks and 2,300 lost school days a year in North Carolina, the state says in court filings. Each year of delay, an expert witness is expected to testify, costs the state and its residents $672 million in health costs."
http://www.newsobserver.com/1565/story/1144694.html
July 18, 2008
"CHARLOTTE, N.C. - Duke Energy Corp. said Thursday it will fight any attempts to stop construction of a new coal-fired power generator in western North Carolina, arguing it was issued a "legal, valid permit" by the state's Division of Air Quality. ...Duke began construction of the $2.4 billion, 800-megawatt generator in late January, a day after the state issued its final air quality permit."
North Carolina's Challenge Guts Air Rule
"A federal appeals court Friday upheld a challenge by North Carolina and struck down the regulatory cornerstone of the Bush administration's efforts to control air pollution. The state was joined by Duke Power and other utilities, which charged that the Environmental Protection Agency exceeded its authority when it established the 2005 Clean Air Interstate Rule."
Duke Energy defends practices in hearing
"Critics: Conservation efforts fall short."
Background information on this story: Duke Energy is seeking approval from the NC Utilities Commission for several energy efficiency programs, some including repackaging of old approaches to load shifting and curtailment, while some of their proposals hinge on a new regulatory approach to cost recovery for real energy conservation measures. Their requested approach to cost recovery for these energy efficiency efforts, generally referred to as "demand side management," is highly unconventional in the amount of money Duke is asking to be paid and will likely not result in the most cost effective approach for NC to realize its vast potential to become more efficient in our electricity generation, delivery and use.
International Agency Urges the Start of an Energy Revolution
"The International Energy Agency said investments of at least $45 trillion might be needed over the next 50 years to prevent shortages and greenhouse gas emissions from slowing growth."
Wasted Energy - Few Know Coal Plants Are Big Energy Hogs
"As energy is unlocked from fuels at power plants, two-thirds of the energy consumed to create electricity is lost."
