February 16, 2007
Leave it to Matanuska Electric Association to face 21st century energy problems with 19th century answers. The answer is “coal.”
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MEA is attempting to justify the new plants because it claims Chugach Electric Association will not provide electricity in 2015. In fact, MEA sent Chugach a letter saying they don't want power from Chugach after 2014.
MEA whined for years about the “too expensive” wholesale energy supply contract with Chugach Electric. So we should throw up our hands and quit negotiating and build expensive generating plants as the only alternative? Maybe MEA needs better negotiators.
Right now, MEA only distributes electricity. New power plants and generating electricity will be huge new activities for MEA.
As usual, there is no honest public process to explore the real problems and realistic solutions. Last fall MEA concocted bogus “public meetings” where hardly a soul showed. The poorly advertised gatherings could have been letters inviting ideas from customers, but that didn't happen.
When people finally got wind that MEA made its mind up to build a coal power plant, lots of people showed up at recent meetings in Wasilla, Palmer and Eagle River. The timing and structure of the new meetings looked like the usual “MEA is really doing something” pitch that is normally orchestrated around board election time.
The overwhelming majority who attended opposed the coal plant idea. Many had critical questions that went unanswered. While MEA staff heard the people vent, it was hard to make meaningful suggestions to MEA's plan because the only document available to the public is a 10-page executive summary. The big plan itself remains secret.
MEA claims it wants a gas generating plant first. Unfortunately, there is no guaranteed gas supply. Even Agrium in Kenai had to ramp down because its gas supply could not be met. There may be gas from the North Slope, but not even the tooth fairy will guarantee that.
Without gas, MEA would likely push for one or two coal plants. These types of large capital projects often have huge cost overruns that do not appear to be part of any current consideration. Whether there is a 100 or 200 MW plant, coal looks like MEA's certain direction - in conflict with our present situation.
The world's scientists now agree that we've already put enough carbon into the atmosphere to keep heating up the planet for another 50 years. MEA's “solution” only adds to an already huge problem that shouldn't be left to our grandchildren.
Coal has been used as fuel since ancient times. It kick-started the industrial revolution in the late 1800s. But now we face a new set of problems that requires further inquiry and serious investigation.
Base load geothermal power is currently being investigated by other Railbelt utilities near the Beluga gas fields. Chugach is planning a wind farm on Fire Island. Many alternate energy solutions are being sought by others, why not MEA?
It might make some sense if Railbelt utilities merged or at least cooperated on future power needs. That way both the risks and the benefits could be shared. But MEA, the minnow that attempted to swallow the Chugach whale a few years back, probably doesn't grasp that logic.
MEA needs to look forward, not backward. They need a transparent process that everyone can see, not a quick peek at a power plan locked behind closed doors.
Instead of trusting MEA to come up with ideas, it's time for Mat-Su and Eagle River residents to take back their own co-op and put forth a “people-based” energy plan for the future. Regular folks sitting around coffee couldn't come up with anything worse than MEA's latest scheme.
New leadership will have to come from MEA's own consumers to create a useful energy plan that will actually work. It's time for MEA to gather ideas rather than dictate to everyone else what it thinks is best.
Lazy Mountain resident Jim Sykes has long been involved with oil, gas and renewable energy and consumer watchdog organizations.
Comments
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