ABQjournal Opinion
A Powerful Project For the Navajo Nation
It’s a power plant that will power both employment and Navajo tax coffers. And it will do so with minimal impact on the environment of northwest New Mexico.
The Navajo Nation has partnered with Houston-based Sithe Global Power to build a 1,500-megawatt coal-fueled power plant southeast of Shiprock. The proposed Desert Rock Power Plant will burn millions of tons of Navajo coal to produce electricity for regional markets.
The project makes logistical sense. Vast supplies of coal are nearby. So are transmission lines needed to access wholesale markets.
The Sithe Global plant would be the cleanest coal-burner fired plant in the country, according to its air quality permit application. The company projects it will emit about 7,000 tons of nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide. The two older plants in the area emit about 104,000 tons.
Sithe Global executives note that the Desert Rock Power Plant has been designed to comply with air quality rules more stringent than current standards.
Is “Sithe” pronounced “scythe,” as in the tool for reaping/cutting (favored by the Grim Reaper) or “sith,” as in the rising forces of darkness in Star Wars. Maybe it’s “seethe,” as in the threat of one more power plant in that area should make everyone seethe.
How can anyone believe the claim that this power plant will be the cleanest in the nation — cleaner than any plant has ever been. Oh, but they brag they’ll be cleaner than future standards (not much of a claim under Clear Skies). Trust us. Forget Enron & WorldCom — we wouldn’t lie or exaggerate just for profit at the expense of an entire ecosystem. We’re businessmen, the new American Heroes.
ABQjournal: Proposed Coal-Fueled Plant on Navajo Land Worries Some Nearby Residents By Leslie Linthicum, Journal Staff Writer
The Four Corners Power Plant, which sits in the northeast corner of the Navajo reservation, was ranked first in the nation last year by a Washington, D.C.-based environmental group for nitrogen oxide emissions. The San Juan Generating Station just northwest of Farmington ranked 24th in carbon dioxide emissions and 37th in mercury releases. …
“It’s going to be noisy,” she said. “There’s going to be roads. There’s going to be trash.” …
ABQjournal: County Ozone Level a Cause for Concern By Tania Soussan, Journal Staff Writer
San Juan County is meeting all federal air quality standards, but residents of the area say the air isn’t as clear as it used to be.
“Anyone who’s been here very long at all has no question our air quality has deteriorated significantly over the last several years,” said Dan Randolph, energy issues coordinator for the San Juan Citizens Alliance, which operates in Colorado and New Mexico.
“What’s most clear to people is you can’t see as far,” he said. There have also been anecdotal reports of increased asthma attacks and other respiratory problems, he said. …
If the county violates the federal standard, businesses there could be forced to meet strict federal rules to reduce ozone.
The federal standard is 80 parts per billion, based on averages over three years. The two monitors in the county are at 72 and 73 parts per billion.
Ground-level ozone is a component of smog and can cause respiratory problems, including asthma.
Surprisingly, most of the local ozone contribution comes from trees and other flora [mjh: and wolves! don’t forget to blame the wolves!]. The second-largest contribution comes in roughly equal measure from the oil and gas industry, power plants and cars, she said.
“You only need a very, very small local contribution to put you near to the standard,” Uhl said.
An analysis of potential future conditions done by the bureau found that a large increase in trees and other plants is the only thing likely to make a big difference in ozone concentrations.
Even with the addition of two power plants, increases in oil and gas drilling and more vehicle traffic, ozone levels would remain steady, according to the analysis.
“Although it’s counterintuitive, additional oil and gas development and power plants is likely to have little impact on ozone concentrations,” Uhl told the state Environmental Improvement Board earlier this month.
In fact, quirky chemistry means it’s possible to increase some other kinds of air pollution while decreasing ozone levels, she said.
“Surprisingly,” “counterintuitive” and “quirky” all go to show: we’ll be healthier and live longer — and grow richer and younger — thanks to a few more power plants. Yeah! mjh