Coal to the Rescue, but Maybe Not Next Winter

New York Times ^ | MARCH 10, 2014 | MATTHEW L. WALD

[reaganaut1]

...

As the end of the harshest winter in recent memory approaches, the bill is coming due for millions of consumers who are not only using more electricity and natural gas but also paying more for whatever they use. And there might not be relief in future winters, as the coal-fired power plants that utilities have relied on to meet the surge in demand are shuttered for environmental reasons.

The sticker shock has been particularly acute in the Northeast, where natural gas supplies have been constrained. But it has spread to other regions of the country, including the Midwest, where utilities have had to draw on more expensive reserves to meet the demand.

In Pennsylvania, Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane said her office had been flooded with complaints from consumers whose utility bills had soared, in some cases tripling. In Rhode Island, the utility National Grid received permission for a 12.1 percent electricity rate increase in January, nearly all of it because of higher prices for the gas used to make electricity.

In New York, Con Edison increased the price of each kilowatt-hour about 16 percent this month compared to last year. And in Ohio, energy retailers will demand higher prices from customers like Ms. Cundiff when annual contracts are renewed.

Underlying the growing concern among consumers and regulators is a second phenomenon that could lead to even bigger price increases: Scores of old coal-fired power plants in the Midwest will close in the next year or so because of federal pollution rules intended to cut emissions of mercury, chlorine and other toxic pollutants. Still others could close because of a separate rule to prevent the damage that cooling water systems inflict on marine life.

[reaganaut1]

Let the people who voted for politicians who shut down coal plants face the consequences.

[ken5050]

“Frack ‘em!!!”

[Little Ray]

Let ‘em freeze in the dark.

Meanwhile, in GA, we’re FINALLY bringing our new Nuke on-line...

[Pietro]

So their elecrticity rates "skyrocketed" after the EPA shutdown dozens of plants in the northeast and what...

People are shocked that they can't afford to heat their homes?

[Zenjitsuman]

This should be a great issue next summer and fall for the GOP to run against the Obama anti coal agenda Democraps.

Laying off coal miners, and they had no plan to make up for the shortage of gas.

Meanwhile there are clean coal technology that could have been invested in that would have kept homes warm for reasonable costs while being environmentally sound.

If there isn’t any gas supplies locally that means its going to be trucked in and that raises CO2 emissions.

[Parley Baer]

“as the coal-fired power plants that utilities have relied on to meet the surge in demand are shuttered for environmental reasons.”

No, they were shut down for political reasons.

[Georgia Girl 2]

“Meanwhile, in GA, we’re FINALLY bringing our new Nuke on-line...”

Yeh I’m so thrilled. And another one on the way. Nathan Deal has turned out to be a major effing disappointment as far as I’m concerned.

[RayChuang88]

Here in the USA, burning coal is not the dirty air pollutant it once was, thanks to modern emission controls to remove the sulfur compounds and heavy metals from the coal in the exhaust stream. As such, it's still a viable source of generating electric power until something like the molten salt reactor design for nuclear reactors get commercialized.

[haircutter]

here in PA. we use propane gas and WOOD...

we ran out of wood early in the season, we just were NOT prepared as we though we would be spending the Winter in the South..

been the coldest and longest winter we can recall..so we are now ready to begin cutting wood and not get caught short again!!! hate the mess it creates but love the warmth it makes...the difficult part is, we are now 76 and 71 and it get harder and harder..

[snowtigger]

I know about that calender. Too many winters have passed on it.

Are you cutting on your own woodlot? If so, maybe you could make a deal with someone younger. Like maybe trade them wood for cutting yours. You know what wood, standing and cut&split goes for in your area.

You would have to find someone you can trust and put the agreement in writing, but it could be cone...

[Little Ray]

Deal isn’t so bad. No crazy spending. No (new) scandals. He’s doing alright.
What opportunities do you think he missed?

[Georgia Girl 2]

You are kidding right? The guy was pushing SPLOST until the public rejected it. Now he is embracing Common Core even to the point of managing to get the legislature to back off on a bill to ban it which was a sure thing to pass til this last week. I can’t believe I voted for the guy. Common Core for God’s sake.

[haircutter]

yes...we cut down, split, and stack our own wood...we have two adult kids, but both live in the South, but when they come North they do help...They both want us to relocate, but property in this area isn’t selling and we sure aren’t giving our place away..

and we have several neighbors that help some, we sold 32 acres to a nice family and they help us a lot...nice folks and the best thing we ever did..hubby hunts with him..and hubby makes fire in their cabin before they visit, so place is comfy for them..

we are old but not quiet down and out yet...just getting a bit tougher. thanks for the post..

[snowtigger]

Sorry for the inference, it's good to stay active. I grew up with wood heat, and swore I would not live in a house without a knob on the wall.

Now that I am retired and the price of heating oil is nearing $4.00 per gallon, I may have to rethink that position. I,too, do not want to move South. Fifty-six years in Alaska has spoiled me for the Southern states. I guess I am a real Sourdough; "soured on Alaska and too low on dough to leave", LOL....

[Smokin' Joe]

Meanwhile there are clean coal technology that could have been invested in that would have kept homes warm for reasonable costs while being environmentally sound. If there isn’t any gas supplies locally that means its going to be trucked in and that raises CO2 emissions.

"Environmentally sound" requires a belief that the difference between the old standard and the new, aside from the new standard requiring technology which hasn't been invented yet, will make any significant difference in the environment.

Worrying about CO2 emissions is ridiculous, because the premise of concern is the alleged anthropogenic global warming which just is not happening (Carbon Dioxide isn't the climate driver, the Sun is).

So much discourse is wrapped around the AGW farce that we will be encumbered with that nonsense for as long as it was thought the Earth was the center of the universe. The least we can do is to quit giving any credence to the fraud by not acting as if our CO2 releases make any significant difference. Otherwise, think of the tons of CO2 released daily by opening containers of beer and pop, not to mention the atmospheric effluvia of the yeast that makes ethanol...which we are told is a "green" fuel.

[Little Ray]

He could be sincere.

I am not a fan of SPLOST or Common Core, but, from what I can tell, most voters in most counties like SPLOST. I was disappointed when it was passed AGAIN in Forsyth.

Have also heard that the objections to Common Core are “overblown” with examples cherry picked. Don’t believe it my self. In any case, the Feds have no business in education. At all. That is for the states and people, not the Federales.

[Georgia Girl 2]

“He could be sincere.”

Yeh but if he is sincere is that what we want? Common Core and SPLOST?