In a message dated 1/28/04 12:45:52 AM Central Standard Time, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes: "Like many of the proponents of natural gas, you seem ignorant of the different grades of coal and lump them all together. You also seem to assume that all coal fired power plants pollute equally, ignoring the huge differences in pollution depending on the technologies the plants employ."
My friends would say that I am far from ignorant on coal, Xcel (not Excel) Energy, and air quality in Minneapolis. There is no doubt there are different types of coal. But none of them burn "clean". "Baghouse and Scrubbers" or "Slurries" or whatever technologies that are currently used at any coal burning facilities old or new across the country cannot eliminate heavy metals like mercury especially from entering our atmosphere when burned. On average Xcel Riverside emits 100#'s of mercury into the air every year. It only takes a thimble full of mercury to contaminate a twenty acre lake. Is there any doubt why our lakes and waterways are impaired? The current "Best Available Control Technology" or BACT for mercury will capture less than 20%. It's also not surprising your analysis of Xcel buying energy from Powder River. The State of MN consumes 10% more energy than we can generate and energy produced at Xcel Riverside (6miles from my house) may be shipped out of state and not even used by the 385,000 Minneapolitians closest to the plant. (Dept of Commerce 2002) If the State Legislation can try to include language that allows "tire burning" to be considered a "renewable energy" that should be allowed state subsidies, well I guess it shows why the State of MN isn't the "Green Leader" it once was and why more folks chose to "burn biomass in Hawthorne". Can you talk more about your "biomass" success? What have you gone through to get to where you are? What equipment? Cost? Etc? That's a topic we don't see to much of on this list. Amy Luesebrink LBNA/SCNA staff Clean Energy Now member REMINDERS: 1. Think a member has violated the rules? Email the list manager at [EMAIL PROTECTED] before continuing it on the list. 2. Don't feed the troll! Ignore obvious flame-bait. For state and national discussions see: http://e-democracy.org/discuss.html For external forums, see: http://e-democracy.org/mninteract ________________________________ Minneapolis Issues Forum - A City-focused Civic Discussion - Mn E-Democracy Post messages to: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Subscribe, Un-subscribe, etc. at: http://e-democracy.org/mpls
