Seneca Sawmills (Name filed on their ORESTAR record: Seneca Jones Timber Company)
Aggregate Donation to Dudley: $35,000
If you live anywhere in or near Eugene, you probably already know about the Cogeneration wood burning power plant that Seneca is bringing on line as I type. According to the Oregon Toxics Alliance's report (PDF here):"This project is being marketed as a source of “green” energy, but it has the potential to be a significant source of air pollution in West Eugene.
Attempts to compare the plant’s emissions to all sources in the County as a whole (including vehicle or wood stove emissions) is overlooking the fact that this power plant will be one of the single largest sources of air pollutants in Eugene and Lane County.
Air pollution facts:
• As proposed, the power plant would be the 2nd largest emitter of NOx and CO in Eugene, the 4th largest emitter of NOx in Lane County, and the 7th largest emitter of CO in the County.
• The power plant would be Eugene’s single largest emitter of styrene (a carcinogen), acetaldehyde (a carcinogen), hydrogen chloride (causes respiratory illnesses), and napthalene (a carcinogen). Furthermore, all of the existing sources of those toxics are located in one neighborhood - West Eugene.
• At 1.7 tons, the proposed plant will be Eugene’s 3rd largest emitter of formaldehyde (a carcinogen). All 9 existing sources are located in West Eugene.
• At 1.4 tons, Seneca will be the 4th largest emitter of toluene (a carcinogen). 19 of the 21 existing Eugene’s toluene sources are in West Eugene.
• A natural gas power plant of the same capacity would have significantly less emissions
Stronger Pollution Controls (NOx)
• As proposed, the power plant would be the 2nd largest emitter of NO in Eugene and the 4th in Lane County.
• The plant would emit and 186 tons of nitrogen oxides (NOx).
• A natural gas power plant of the same capacity would release 115 tons.
• According to the EPA, NOx causes respiratory problems and aggravates heart disease. It can damage lung tissue and cause premature death.
• NOx is a major component of ground-level ozone and global warming."
Wow! I don't know about you, but all the assurances in the world wouldn't make me feel better about living near this thing. Environmentalists used to get happily excited about biomass plants for energy generation until they found out what these plants do to the neighborhoods situated near them.
Just a cursory Google search on pollution violations of this type of plant yielded the following results:
State settles pollution case at wood-fired plant
New Waterbury powerplant cited for pollution violations (I checked other sources, it is a biomass plant)
Closer to home, this article came out in the Oregonian today:
"Freres Lumber (Note: CEO is also a Dudley contributor) fired up its biomass plant in 2007 as part of the green power rush, banking on tax breaks to generate steam and electricity at its Lyons mill by burning forest slash and mill waste. But proposed rules from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency -- including new regulations on boiler pollution and greenhouse gas emissions from the plants -- could force the company to sample emissions more and put "pollution controls on top of pollution controls," Freres executives say. The proposed regulations would make it very difficult to operate the plant, says Kyle Freres, a vice president. "And I really don't think new plants would have much incentive to start up." "
ENTER CHRIS DUDLEY!
Just what is Chris Dudley's stance on the environment: a well-known local Republican says on his blog that Dudley has dodged this question when asked. So he speculates (with much disdain and imagined eye-rolling) that Dudley believes in man-made causes of global warming. I would say, in typical Dudley fashion, he's merely dodged the whole subject. I was able to find something a bit more official-looking as far as a stance here comparing the Republican candidates for Governor before Dudley won the primary
(Under Environment/Energy):
"Chris Dudley: Would focus state policies to promote, not stand in the way of, sustainable development of ranching, timber and agricultural industries. Supports Oregon's emphasis on green economy but should re-evaluate state subsidies for renewable power. Says he is open to liquefied natural gas facilities but doesn't see public appetite for oil drilling off Oregon coast."
So the truth lies somewhere between "promoting" ...timber (et al) industries and if you consider biomass renewable power. Greenpeace does not consider it renewable, and neither do I since biomass is fueled largely by our forests. Until someone asks Chris Dudley specifically about this matter, we're just going to have to take it on faith that all Seneca (and Freres) will get in return for its donation is a Christmas card. The citizens in and around West Eugene would probably like more reassurance.
Further reading: Interesting article about biomass and why enviros aren't thrilled with it-
http://www.ecofriendlymag.com/sustainable-transporation-and-alternative-fuel/biomass-power-renewable-or-rotten/
No comments:
Post a Comment