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Montana Coal Plant ProposalsMontana currently receives approximately 54 percent of its electricity from coal-fired power plants, and plans are in place to build more. Here is a list of the current proposals. Follow the links to find out more about each proposal and what efforts are underway to oppose them:/p>
1. RoundupLocation: Roundup Company: Bull Mountain Power Type: Conventional pulverized coal Megawatts (MW): 780 Owner: Merchant More information: The Roundup power plant, if allowed to proceed, would emit 8.2 million tons of greenhouse gases per year. The plant was originally issued a permit for construction in 2003, which required that construction begin by July 2005. Although construction did not begin, the Montana Department of Environmental Quality extended the permit without public notification or review. The Montana Environmental Information Center (MEIC) currently has three lawsuits filed in regard to Roundup, and continues to fight its construction. Contact: Anne Hedges with the Montana Environmental Information Center at Anne Hedges or 406-443-2520. 2. HardinLocation: Hardin Company: MDU Resources Group/MT-ND Utilities Type: Conventional pulverized coal Megawatts (MW): 110 Owner: Merchant More information: The Montana Environmental Information Center (MEIC) challenged the air permit for Hardin due to relaxed mercury standards. An agreement was reached between the two parties, stating that Hardin will be a test facility for mercury controls during the first three years of its operation, and during 18 months of that period, a mercury control technology must be installed. With this agreement, the plant began commercial operation in March 2006. Contact: Pat Judge with the Montana Environmental Information Center at pljudge@meic.org or 406-443-2520. 3. CircleLocation: Circle Company: Great Northern Power Development Type: Lignite/wind Megawatts (MW): 500 Owner: Merchant More information: Lignite is also known as “brown coal,” and has a much higher moisture content (and therefore ash content) than regular black coal. Carbon dioxide emissions from plants fueled by lignite are usually much higher than those from black coal plants. The Montana Department of Environmental Quality recently set mercury caps for lignite plants, like the one at Circle. Contact: Pat Judge with the Montana Environmental Information Center at pljudge@meic.org or 406-443-2520. 4. Otter CreekLocation: Have not chosen location Company: Kennecott, Bechtel and Wesco Type: Conventional pulverized coal Megawatts (MW): 3,000 Owner: Merchant More information: Kennecott, Bechtel, and Wesco have proposed building a coal plant to generate 3,000 megawatts. The Otter Creek coal tracts were transferred to the State of Montana by the federal government under the Clinton administration. No air permit has been submitted. Contact: The Montana Environmental Information Center is monitoring the Otter Creek project. Contact Pat Judge with the Montana Environmental Information Center at pljudge@meic.org or 406-443-2520. 5. Thompson RiverLocation: Thompson Falls Company: Thompson River Co-Gen Type: Conventional pulverized coal and wood waste Megawatts (MW): 12 Owner: Merchant More information: There was little opposition to the development of the Thompson River plant, in part because of lack of information and in part because of misinformation. Residents of Thompson Falls were led to believe that the plant would burn mostly biomass, a renewable resource available locally, with a small amount of power from coal, and that the plant would provide jobs for local residents. In truth, the plant will probably burn 80% coal and provide at most three jobs for local residents. The concerned citizens of Sanders County began a Community Awareness Network and have been mobilizing their neighbors against the plant. Contact: Jim Jensen with the Montana Environmental Information Center at jjensen@meic.org or 406-443-2520. 6. HighwoodLocation: Great Falls Company: South Montana Electric G&T Type: Circulating fluidized bed Megawatts (MW): 250 Owner: CO-OPS More information: The Montana Environmental Information Center is most actively opposing the Highwood plant. The plant, if constructed, would annually emit 3,052,081 tons of carbon dioxide (equivalent to the emissions produced by 561,000 cars in a year), 1,177 tons of carbon monoxide, 443 tons of sulfur dioxide, 366 tons of particulates, and other air pollutants. The plant was originally proposed in 2003, but due to an aggressive grassroots campaign, no construction has begun. Contact: Anne Hedges with the Montana Environmental Information Center at ahedges@meic.org or 406-443-2520. |
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