I had some time to snoop

around on the internet recently a while back. Somehow, I ended up in a November 5, 2005 work session of the City Commission.
“Commissioner Hinz asked about the methalization process and if they could guarantee that mercury emissions from this plant would not affect the waterways in Montana. (as ya’all know, I like the waterways) Mr. Chaffee* stated that the plant would not contribute to local methalization and that this was a global issue; something that should be addressed globally rather than at the local level.”
Well, I was curious what the “methalization process” was, and why they were talking about it, so I googled “methalization“. Hmm. Maybe more info? Nope. But that gave me an idea-lets try “methylization“. Ah, spelling is important!
“a significant amount of mercury falls within 200 to 300 miles of a power plant. The remainder enters the global cycle. Fitzgerald’s studies indicate mercury emissions from power plants that don’t end up in the global cycle fall within 31 to 75 miles of plants.”
 
That’s just one link, but there are many others that support the general statement, and distances, with variables that include air humidity (higher humidity, mercury falls faster), and stack height (short stack, mercury falls closer).

But still not really what I wanted to know. I went to many sites, EPA, MEIC, Texas eco, Washington eco, Virginia is a good resource for those into coal related horror stories, hither and yon I went on a quest for answers. I decided there is a lot of information out there, and it is mostly interpreted with a preconceived bias.

But one thing I am pretty sure about, I do not agree with Mr. Chaffees* statement “something that should be addressed globally rather than at the local level.”

How can addressing mercury emissions at any thing but a local level actually make a difference locally? Doesn’t every thing start at the local level? It is fairly well documented (and just possibly plain common sense) that mercury emissions from a coal plant are going to be kinda centralized in relatively close proximity to that coal plant, especially the mercury that never makes it out of the flue, and is in the fly ash, that is going to be buried.

In 2007, Jeff Chafey*, who stated he works for Bison Engineering out of the Helena office, and he works for SME for the Highwood Generating Station project, also noted “There isn’t any technology right off the shelf for a coal fired plant or a natural gas plant. There are a lot of things under development being worked on and they are working hard with the Big Sky Carbon Sequestration Partnership out of the University of Montana, Bozeman, on finding potential storage sites for that carbon. They have good options and will do their best to work pro-active and work forward on that.”
 
Well, you know what I did. If you go to the partners directory, then Rural electric co-ops, then other links, click National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, About us, Our members, put in our state, and you finally get here.  I searched my little heart out for links relating to how hard SME, or any of it partners (Big Sky Carbon Sequestration Partnership, Stanley Consultants, Bison Engineering, Alstom Power & Aspen Air) are working. I found the one actual research program. I question how hard SME is working to actually develop carbon sequestration. You would think they would want their involvement to be as well documented as possible, but the main thing I found were links to the Tribune stories, with SME statements about how hard they are working…

Nothing against the program, but if you look at the Partnership site, they have very little information. There are no current reports. Everything is in the very early stages of research. How long is it going to be until there is an actual program that would effect this plant? 
But lets get off the environmental rubbish for a moment, because, ya know, the permits are in place, and the government said it’s safe, and all that…

At a September 8, 2007 meeting, Mr. Gregorie addressed the Commission, and stated “over the course of the past few years, this project has demanded a great deal of Commission time.” He went on to state “it has not been easy for the Commissioners to sit on the peripheral edges of this project”.

How much more Commission time would have been demanded if the Commissioners weren’t just on the “peripheral edges” of the project? How “peripheral” is the Commission involvement considered by SME?

Another little irritant from the same meeting “George Golie stated that he is the business manager for the Local 400 of the Operating Engineers Union. Mr. Golie said that membership supports the Highwood Generating Station. He thanked the Commissioners for supporting the ordinance change.”

Doesn’t Mr. Golie also sit on the Board for ECPI? Didn’t SME and the City (ECP) give unions exclusive rights to all the jobs constructing the plant? As the business manager for Local 400, he has a duty to the union. As a Board member of ECPI, does he have a duty to the City, and by extension, a duty to all the other folks who might want to make a couple bucks off the construction? Maybe I’m overreaching a bit, but I don’t have any problem seeing a wee bit of conflict.

(See 2.52.050, G. No officer or employee or any business organization in which he or she has an interest shall represent any other person or party except the City in connection with any cause, proceeding, application or other matter pending before any agency of the City of Great Falls.)

I just don’t see carbon sequestration technology actually being a realistic promise, any more than I believe the promises of jobs and economic bliss right over the horizon. And our City staff (who mostly have other job descriptions) and part time Commissioners are working awfully hard (or not) to realize this dream.

*yeah, I know, I have his name spelled two different ways. However, I am just being faithful to my source. That is how it is spelled on the city website, who am I to argue with the Official Minutes.

Update: I thought I posted this some time ago. Guess I didn’t, so I cannot guarantee the Trib links will work…it’s just to fill the white space anyway…
 

22 October 2007 | Life | Comments