COM M E NTARY Coal no longer a viable option for new generation
n April of this year, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) published pro- posed “New Source Performance Stan- dards” which limit carbon dioxide (
I
Chris Meyers General Manager, Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives
emissions from new electric generating units. Even though they are proposed rules, once they are published in the Fed-
CO2 )
eral Register they become effective and electric power generators must comply with them. The emission limits set under these new rules are such that no new coal-fi red generation plant can meet the requirement without capturing and storing CO2 from emissions. Carbon capture and storage technology is still not yet commercially vi- able and is prohibitively expensive. Without car- bon capture and storage, these new EPA rules ef- fectively eliminate coal as a future source of fuel for power generation. Existing coal-fi red power plants are exempt from these new rules but the EPA has
made it clear that CO2 emission limits for existing plants are forthcoming. The CO2 emission limits are set so that only new natural gas combined cy- cle, nuclear, and renewables can meet them. Even without a limit on greenhouse gases like
O
Glenn Propps President,
Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives
youth education.
The Oklahoma Association of Electric Coopera- tives’ (OAEC) annual “YouthPower Energy Camp” and the National Rural Electric Cooperative As- sociation’s (NRECA) annual Washington, D.C., “Youth Tour” are two educational programs for young people that are a vital part of most electric cooperatives’ offerings here in Oklahoma. Each year, many local electric co-ops host eighth grade students from across the state at a four-day educational session called “Energy Camp.” From May 29 to June 1 this year, at least 83 young men and women learned much about electric coopera- tives and what makes them unique among electric utilities. The camp is held at Canyon Camp, locat- ed near Hinton, Okla.
4 OKLAHOMA LIVING
ne of the things that makes coop- eratives unique is the different types of service offerings that each may provide to their own local mem- ber-owners. While most electric cooperatives across Oklahoma—and the nation—offer many similar services, some programs are special because they promote
CO2 , the reality is only a handful of new coal-fi red units are even under consideration in the United States—given the uncertainty surrounding future environmental regulations on pollutants like mer- cury , sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen dioxide. Virtually all new plants today are being fueled by natural gas because, at this particular point in time, natural gas is cheap, plentiful, and the eco- nomics are such that natural gas is the preferred choice. In fact, with low natural gas prices, utili- ties are fi nding it more economical to increase pro- duction from existing and new natural gas-fi red generators while backing off the production of electricity from existing coal units. In some cases coal units are being shut down permanently—even without these new rules. With the future for new coal-fi red plants already “on the ropes,” these new rules just delivered the knockout punch. The recent EPA rules were clearly put in place not to change today’s utility decisions, but to forever shut the door on coal until practi- cal technology developments fi nd a way to signifi -
cantly reduce CO2 emissions from coal-fi red power plants.
For all consumers, I sincerely hope that our remaining options of nuclear, natural gas, and renewables can provide low-cost energy in the fu- ture because the future option of using coal-fi red power plants as we know them today has been eliminated. OL
‘EC’ and ‘YT’ — Powering the Needs of a New Generation
Energy Camp kids are full of ‘energy!’ While at camp, local co-op chaperones and OAEC staff teach students about electrical safety, how electric- ity is generated, and how an electric distribution system works. Students also elect a Board of Direc- tors, set up their own co-op, and select a manager to run it during the camp. It’s a great experience! On pages 16 and 17 of this month’s Oklahoma
Living magazine, you’ll see photos of 68 juniors in high school selected by local electric co-ops to attend a week-long, government in action “Youth Tour” trip to Washington, D.C., beginning June 15. Youth Tour was started by NRECA in the early 1960s, following a challenge by then-Vice-Presi- dent Lyndon B. Johnson to educate more young people about rural electrifi cation.
This year’s Youth Tour participants come from communities like Lookeba, Olustee, Coweta, Free- dom, Wapanucka and Cement—towns you may or may not be familiar with, but whose students are the future leaders of our state—and possibly of our electric cooperatives.
All who attend the OAEC YouthPower Energy Camp and the NRECA Youth Tour come away with a better understanding of how electric coop- eratives work for the betterment of the communi- ties and areas they serve.
These programs prove electric co-ops are indeed ‘Powering the Needs of a New Generation.’ OL
Follow OKL:
Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives
Chris Meyers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . General Manager Glenn Propps . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .President Joe Harris . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Vice-President Jimmy Taylor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Secretary-Treasurer
Staff
Sid Sperry . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Director of PR & Communications
sksperry@oaec.coop
Anna Politano . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Managing Editor
editor@ok-living.coop
Larry Skoch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Advertising Manager
lskoch@ok-living.coop
Christy Johnson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Offi ce Manager
cjohnson@oaec.coop
Kirbi Bailey . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Accountant/Offi ce Manager Asst.
kbailey@oaec.coop
Emilia Buchanan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Communications Assistant
ebuchanan@oaec.coop Hayley Imel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Multimedia Specialist
himel@ok-living.coop
Editorial, Advertising and General Offi ces
P.O. Box 54309, Oklahoma City, OK 73154-1309 Phone (405) 478-1455 Oklahoma Living online:
www.ok-living.coop
Subscriptions
$3.12 per year for rural electric cooperative members. $6.00 per year for non-members.
Cooperative Members:: Report change of ad- dress to your local rural electric cooperative. Non-Cooperative Members: Send address changes to Oklahoma Living, P.O. Box 54309, Oklahoma City, OK 73154-1309.
Oklahoma Living (ISSN 1064-8968), USPS 407-040, is published monthly for consumer-members of Oklahoma’s rural electric cooperatives by the Oklahoma Association of Electric Coopera- tives, 2325 E. I-44 Service Road, P.O. Box 54309, Oklahoma City, OK 73154-1309.
Circulation this issue: 316,247 Periodical postage paid at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
The Oklahoma Association of Electric Cooperatives is a statewide service organization for the following electric cooperatives: Alfalfa, Arkansas Valley, Caddo, Canadian Valley, Central Rural, Choctaw, Cimarron, Cookson Hills, Cotton, East Central Oklahoma, Harmon, Indian, KAMO Power, Kay, Kiamichi, Kiwash, Lake Region, Northeast Oklahoma, Northfork, Northwestern, Oklahoma, Ozarks, People’s, Red River Valley, Rural, Southeastern, Southwest Rural, Tri-County, Verdigris Valley, and Western Farmers Electric Cooperative.
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