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Tuesday, 05 September 2006 17:40 |
By JEREMY MORRISON
Following his speech on air quality and emission reductions, John Myers of the Tennessee Valley Authority fielded a 20 minute question-and-answer session from the audience at Asheville Buncombe Technical Community College.
The first question concerned TVAës heavy reliance on coal-fueled power. The audience member wondered why the company had significantly reduced its emissions from the coal plants.
"Within
our coal-powered fleet ÇƒÓ those emissions are staying on," Myers said,
adding that TVA is planning on expanding its nuclear capabilities,
which should alleviate some of the weight placed on the coal-burning
facilities.
"How come you canët phase it out faster?" the questioner continued.
Myers explained
that it was not cost effective to stray away from coal. Although coal
is the largest source of the companyës pollutants, phasing it out would
be expensive. This cost would be passed onto the power subscribers,
which ÇƒÓ according to TVA ÇƒÓ would also be unhealthy.
"We think that affordable power is part of public health," Myers explained.
The next
question concerned the companyës efforts toward green power. Renewable
energy accounts for only 1% of TVAës total power.
Myers said that,
at this time, renewable energy is too expensive and limiting. Solar
power, for instance, can only be generated during daytime hours.
"Nuclear plants can run 24 hours a day," Myers said.
A man then
inquired about the governmentës cap-and-trade rule. The rule allows
companies which have fallen below the required emission levels to sell
off their excess success, allowing companies still above the required
levels to purchase compliance.
"We think itës
an effective program," Myers said, adding that the rule acts as an
incentive to companies to reduce emissions in hopes of banking on their
environmental triumph.
"It forces deeper and deeper technology," he said.
Another question
regarded carbon and why it has not been addressed it emission reports.
Myers told the woman that carbon could not currently be filtered out.
The woman asked if a carbon-tax might act as an incentive.
"Itës one of the tools being considered," Myers said.
The next question centered on the how-clean-is-clean-enough issue.
"According to
the statistics Iëve read," the lady said, "even though the emissions
are being reduced, the airës still not clean enough."
"Certainly, we
think thereës more work to be done," Myers told her. "But we are
gratified to see things going in the right direction."
A man then asked
if the TVA operates soley within the region, or if it might be possible
to purchase tidal power generated from offshore turbines.
"The electricity
market is getting pretty fluid," Myers said, explaining that TVA
currently purchases power from outside the area because the company
sells more than it produces.
Though not currently used, turbine power is within the realm of possibilities, he said.
The next question concerned TVAës effect on the region.
"Basically, what
we have here is ǃÚwho benefits, and who pays,ë" said the questioner.
"Eastern Tennessee benefits and western North Carolina benefits less."
The man went on
to say that air quality studies donët take topography into account, and
to ask Myers if "the TVA would be willing to participate in a
commission that "attempts to balance the needs and wants of eastern
Tennessee and western North Carolina."
"What weëre
trying to do is a good-neighbor approach to the Clean Air Act," Myers
said. "Weëre certainly available to talk in terms of what our
reductions are doing ÇƒÓ weëre definitely up for talking about that."
The next questioner pursued the same line.
"The predominant air flow is from west to east," the woman challenged.
"We all impact each other," Myers countered. "It can go a lot of directions."
At this point, a
man in the audience directed the conversation back to renewable energy,
asking if the regionës mountainous terrain lends itself to wind power.
"I donët know
the potential," Myers said, adding that the plains states offer better
opportunity for wind-generated power. "The southeast doesnët have much
wind resources."
Myers also said
that as more people show interest in green power, the market will
respond by putting more resources in the direction.
Another person asked why emissions rose after a number of years of steady decline.
Myers told the audience that weather can affect the amount of reductions.
"Clearly, mother
nature throws the roulette wheel at you," he said. "With the type of
air mass weëve had it could have certainly popped up; 2005 was a rough
year ÇƒÓ it could have been worse."
Myers said that
people could attempt to reduce polluntants themselves by purchasing
energy-efficient appliances and altering the way and amount they travel.
The final question of the evening created a bit of an awkward moment.
"What percentage of you coal comes from mountain-top mining?" a woman asked.
"I donët know that," Myers said solemnly. "I donët. Iëm sorry."
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