Will the EPA be Rational?
The Environmental Protection Agency has a draconian plan for reducing emissions from the San Juan Generating Station in Northwest New Mexico. According to the Albuquerque Journal, the plan will cost $1 billion (or $90 a year for 20 years for the average residential customer and much more for larger users). This comes on top of $320 million in equipment that was recently installed by the plant’s owner Public Service Company of New Mexico (PNM) to reduce emissions of nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, particulate matter and mercury. Now, the EPA wants another bite of the apple.
But, a recent proposal from the New Mexico Environment Department, could save rate-payers hundreds-of-millions of dollars. According to PNM, the state plan would be far less costly, in the range of $250 million, making the difference in impacts to ratepayers substantial. The question is whether the EPA will go along with the more reasonable deal.
The EPA’s comment period is open (sorry for the Sierra Club link, but the contact information is the same even if our comments will be different).
typo “… has a draconian plan for reducing (what?)”
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Thanks Ched, “emissions.” I made the change.
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You miss the point. The government intends to tighten the noose until coal fired power plants are too expensive to operate. If PNM clears this hurdle they will raise the bar.
Candles anyone?
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