This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
Powerful Living


Co-op Natural Gas Plant Capacity Added Co-op gas-fi red capacity additions* by year over the last 20 years


“ No fuel source is perfect. Each has ben-


efi ts and disadvantages that must be con- tinuously weighed. Because of this, the U.S. energy sector should continue employing an ‘all-hands-on-deck’ approach to meet- ing future needs. For natural gas, the cur- rent benefi ts continue to greatly outweigh its disadvantages.


” * Nameplate capacity (MW) of co-op owned plants including G&T and distribution co-ops SOURCE: NRECA Cameron Eoff, Gas Coordinator, AECI


This past winter, for example, several states—including Oklahoma—experi- enced some of the coldest winters in history. During cold months, residential and commercial co-op members may consume natural gas for heating; de- mand for natural gas then increases sig- nificantly, often placing an upward pressure on prices as demand increases. According to the EIA, if unexpected or severe weather occurs, the effect on prices intensifi es because supply is often unable to react quickly to short-term increases in demand. Other factors that can curtail natural gas are the transpor- tation system and coordination between natural gas supplies and the electricity markets.


It is because of these uncertainties and price volatility trends that co-ops believe in a di- verse energy portfolio that uses several fuel sourc- es including coal, natural gas, wind, hydro, solar and biofuels. “No fuel source is perfect,” Eoff said. “Each has benefi ts and disadvantages that must be con- tinuously weighed. Because of this, the U.S. en- ergy sector should continue employing an ‘all-hands-on-deck’ approach to meeting future needs. For natural gas, the current benefi ts con- tinue to greatly outweigh its disadvantages.” WFEC Mooreland Gas Plant Manager Danny


Thomas is a strong proponent of fuel diversity to achieve more affordable costs for electric coop- erative consumer-members. “Today you have to blend everything to get affordable prices—that means renewables, coal, and natural gas. We’re fortunate natural gas is plentiful in Oklahoma, and an economical fuel as well,” he said.


WFEC’s natural gas-fi red plant in Mooreland, Okla. Photo by Mark Daugherty/WFEC The Mooreland plant that Thomas manages is


classifi ed as a ‘peaking power’ facility, meaning a power plant that is used to provide power during high-demand peaking periods such as in winter and summer months. Another advantage of gas power plants is the rate at which they are able to start after being offl ine. Usually in just a matter of hours, a gas-powered unit can be running from a cold start. When running at full capacity, WFEC’s Mooreland Gas Plant generates 345 megawatts (MW).


How Clean is Natural Gas? Recently, with the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) proposed regulations on existing coal power plants, it seems all eyes have turned to natural gas. National Rural Electric Cooperative Association executive director of energy and power division, Dave Mohre, said the industry is beginning to see a more pronounced shift from


coal to natural gas. But, the question begs itself—since natural gas is a fos- sil fuel, how much cleaner is it? Natural gas is formed when layers of buried plants and animals are ex- posed to intense heat and pressure over thousands of years. The energy the plants and animals originally ob- tained from the sun is stored in the form of carbon in natural gas. The natural gas power production pro- cess begins with the extraction of natural gas, continues with treat- ment and transportation to power plants, and ends with combustion in boilers and turbines to generate elec- tricity. According to the EPA, the burning of natural gas produces nitrogen oxides and carbon diox-


ide, but in lower quantities than burning coal or oil. Compared to the average air emissions from coal-fi red generation, natural gas produces half of the carbon dioxide, less than a third of the nitrogen oxides, and 1 percent of the sulfur ox- ides at the power plant.


Still, Eoff noted no single fuel source can meet future energy needs. “Fuel diversity is the biggest key to reliable, economical power supply for our member-own- ers and all electricity consumers across the United States,” Eoff said. “AECI and its member- owners saw the future a long time ago when it started building natural gas power plants, adding wind resources and offering effi ciency incentives to supplement its coal and hydropower resourc- es. Our ability to maintain the economic viability of all these resources going forward will deter- mine our success in meeting our mission and vision.”


SEPTEMBER 2014 7


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64  |  Page 65  |  Page 66  |  Page 67  |  Page 68  |  Page 69  |  Page 70  |  Page 71  |  Page 72  |  Page 73  |  Page 74  |  Page 75  |  Page 76  |  Page 77  |  Page 78  |  Page 79  |  Page 80  |  Page 81  |  Page 82  |  Page 83  |  Page 84  |  Page 85  |  Page 86  |  Page 87  |  Page 88  |  Page 89  |  Page 90  |  Page 91  |  Page 92  |  Page 93  |  Page 94  |  Page 95  |  Page 96  |  Page 97  |  Page 98  |  Page 99  |  Page 100  |  Page 101  |  Page 102  |  Page 103  |  Page 104  |  Page 105  |  Page 106  |  Page 107  |  Page 108  |  Page 109  |  Page 110  |  Page 111  |  Page 112  |  Page 113  |  Page 114  |  Page 115  |  Page 116  |  Page 117  |  Page 118  |  Page 119  |  Page 120  |  Page 121  |  Page 122  |  Page 123  |  Page 124  |  Page 125  |  Page 126  |  Page 127  |  Page 128  |  Page 129  |  Page 130  |  Page 131  |  Page 132  |  Page 133  |  Page 134  |  Page 135  |  Page 136  |  Page 137  |  Page 138  |  Page 139  |  Page 140  |  Page 141  |  Page 142  |  Page 143  |  Page 144  |  Page 145  |  Page 146  |  Page 147  |  Page 148  |  Page 149  |  Page 150  |  Page 151  |  Page 152  |  Page 153  |  Page 154  |  Page 155  |  Page 156  |  Page 157  |  Page 158  |  Page 159  |  Page 160