Clock ticking on
coal-fired plant
Oct 21, 2005 - The Times-News, Twin Falls, Idaho,
Author(s): Michelle Dunlop
Oct. 21--TWIN FALLS -- Magic Valley residents are approaching a fork
in the road.
If Idahoans don't want San Diego-based Sempra Generation to build its
600-megawatt coal-fired power plant near Jerome, they better speak up --
and speak up soon, a former power plant operator told about 20 people
gathered at the Twin Falls County Farm Bureau Thursday evening.
"Coal plants are a long-term, multi-generational commitment," said
Joe Ruschetti, a Twin Falls resident who operated power plants for over
10 years before getting into health care and business.
If Magic Valley residents aren't ready to make that commitment,
Ruschetti said, they can voice concerns to the Idaho Department of
Environmental Quality. The agency has proposed a change in state law
that would allow it to participate in a federal cap and trade program
for mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants -- like the one
proposed by Sempra.
Idaho's current law doesn't allow for mercury emissions, thus a
coal-fired power plant couldn't locate in the state, Ruschetti said. DEQ
will accept public comment on the rule change through Oct. 26 and will
hold a meeting on it in November, he said.
Sempra officials did not attend the meeting.
The Farm Bureau did contact the company about presenting, a
spokeswoman for Sempra told The Times-News. However, Sempra officials
elected not to go because they could not be guaranteed an hour to give
their presentation, said Patty Nance.
"We wanted to be able to explain the project completely," she said.
"In all fairness to the people who have questions, we need the time to
be able to answer them."
Nance said that Sempra officials would still be happy to attend
another meeting.
"I'm not opposed to coal-fired power plants," Ruschetti said. "What I
am opposed to is this plant that Sempra's planning to build in Jerome
County."
Ruschetti opposes Sempra's plant for several reasons. First, the
facility will use Idaho's resources to provide power to other states,
Ruschetti said. Sempra officials have said that Idaho Power will have
the option to buy their electricity, but no deal between the two has
been made public.
Ruschetti believes that Sempra has chosen a poorly suited site
because of the drought situation and because Idaho lacks state oversight
which would make siting the plant more than just a local decision.
An interim legislative committee recently turned down a power plant
siting bill introduced by Sen. Clint Stennett, D-Ketchum. But, at least
one in attendance still has hope for a siting legislation.
Bill Block thinks that the state will have an awakening when it comes
to power plant siting. His wife, Rep. Sharon Block, R-Twin Falls, has
grave concerns about Sempra's project, he said.
"Last I heard, Jerome County is not going to put up a curtain at
their border," Block said.
Block, like Ruschetti, encouraged residents to contact their
legislators and commissioners about their concerns.
"I think this project could affect our culture, our politics," Block
said.
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