Where there's a Will, there's a way

The SJR has a story about Amtrak being promoted as an eco-friendly travel option. I like taking it to Chicago whenever I go. I don't have to pay for parking or deal with city traffic. And as much as I like Amtrak, I'm in love with the L. I even wrote a song about the Red Line. Yes, I'm a dork.

The story is a good example of how passenger rail drives economic development. Land values and businesses grow around good public transportation. That means there are some up-sides to the possibility of having a high-speed passenger rail corridor and multi-modal center in the middle of downtown Springfield along the 3rd Street corridor.

Yes, there are problems with installing double tracks along the 3rd St corridor, just as there are problems with consolidation on 10th. Neither option is going to cause the destruction of downtown. It's a little irritating to see the downsides of one option over-hyped while drawbacks to the other are ignored. In some ways, the 3rd Street corridor will help downtown grow.

We'll only see the full economic and environmental benefits if we abandon the idea that public transportation is only for people with no other travel options. The trouble with the proposed multi-modal on 11th is that it's based on twenty year old backward ideas about mass transit.

The proposed 11th Street site is surrounded by important social service agencies. No one has been able to answer whether they plan to: 1) Force service agencies out to make room for the promised economic development, or 2) Ask tourists to walk by two shelters, rehab centers and the county jail near a high crime neighborhood at nighttime if they want to visit Springfield. Those are the only two options and neither one sounds appealing.

The local press finally started covering the full picture so we should be able to have a rational discussion about high-speed rail soon, without all the apocalyptic talk of Springfield's impending doom.

This song has been stuck in my head for the last two days...

Posted by Will at 3:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (1)

One of the most interesting parts of the two hearings on the Taylorville Energy Center (TEC) was learning about the process of coal gasification and carbon capture. The TEC, proposed by Tenaska Inc, uses a gasification process that turns coal into syngas, which is converted into Substitute Natural Gas (SNG). Once the conversion is complete, they'll either use the SNG to power a steam turbine or sell it on the market.

Some CO2 from the plant may be captured, or the company can buy carbon offsets instead if they don't capture enough. Currently, their IEPA permit doesn't require them to capture any carbon at all. Some CO2 may also be sold on the market through a $1 Billion pipeline proposed across Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee and Mississippi that would connect to "Enhanced Oil Recovery" projects along the Gulf Coast.

The company often points out that the entire process will make the plant's air pollution comparable to a natural gas plant. That's a real accomplishment for a coal facility. But it makes me wonder. Is there another alternative that would have low emissions comparable to natural gas that doesn't involve billions in subsidies and extra costs on consumers?

Oh yeah! Actual natural gas!

New discoveries mean natural gas is abundant, cheap, and cleaner than coal. Not only that, we already have natural gas plants online that aren't being used to full capacity.

They're also more compatible with wind farms because they power up in response to wind fluctuations faster than coal plants can. If we want to grow new wind farms, then solar and natural gas are much more complementary power sources than coal.

So why should we spend billions in taxpayer dollars to construct a very expensive, unproven substitute for something that's already built, plentiful, cheap, and cleaner? Well, it's good for the Illinois coal mining industry.

Politicians and economic development officials who live in the past hold onto the idea that coal always has been and always will be the economic engine driving the downstate economy. We're supposed to believe that what's good for the coal industry is good for Illinois.

As I've written before, mine mechanization (not environmental regulation) is the primary reason why the United States has lost most coal jobs, even while the amount of coal being extracted goes up. Building more plants won't bring a significant number of mining jobs back to Illinois.

It's a false hope being peddled by the coal industry and it's the wrong way to revitalize our regional economy. If we want real economic growth in downstate Illinois then we need politicians to stop pandering with coal industry nostalgia and start creating real green jobs.

Posted by Will at 4:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Tenaska Inc is busy trying to convince people that the coal gasification and carbon capture plant proposed in Taylorville won't raise electric rates. They have to try very hard because all evidence indicates that it will. To get the real story, you have to ignore what they're telling the general public and instead look at what they're telling investors and regulatory agencies.

Tenaska is betting that the public and reporters won't read the sourcing tariff for the TEC (Taylorville Energy Center). The document with all appendixes is over 90 pages long so I won't be uploading it on my blog. Luckily, the company gave a presentation at the Gasification Technologies Conference that's online and easier to understand. It includes a lot of juicy info about rates and taxpayer subsidies that you aren't likely to hear at a large public hearing or press conference.

Two provisions relate most directly to rates. The first, to quote Tenaska's own presentation,

"Requires electric utilities and other electric retail suppliers in Illinois to purchase 100% of the electric output from clean coal facilities under 30 year Sourcing Agreements. Contracting with these electricity providers provides a built-in customer base for the plant."

The second relevant provision allows Tenaska to base rates on their capital investment and cost of generating power, regardless of market prices.

"Legislation allows TEC to pass through all operating costs on a monthly basis."

Consumers will be forced to buy all power produced by this plant for 30 years, no matter how much it costs, and no matter how many cleaner, cheaper alternatives become available. What a scam!

What's being done to Illinois citizens was stated plainly at a 2006 conference on coal gasification.

That included a call for utilities and their ratepayers to be willing to accept more risk than they are accustomed to assuming. Regulators should be willing to provide greater assurances for recovering both development and operating costs. That means added risk for customers, who must also be willing to tolerate potential additional costs. Taxpayers should continue to vigorously subsidize IGCC plants and fund R&D for various gasification, carbon capture and sequestration technologies, attendees were told.

Last year, Ameren and ComEd objected because they believe TEC won't produce energy at competitive rates. The Illinois General Assembly punted by forming a task force to examine whether it would create rate increases. It's pretty sad that it takes two utility giants who recently hiked their own rates to make legislators take notice of rate increases on consumers. How bad does it have to be before Ameren starts to care how much we're paying?

The Taylorville Energy Center is seeking an air permit from the Illinois EPA, and a guaranteed loan from the US Department of Energy. Both agencies are taking public comments, so let them know what you think.

If you want to comment on the air permit, which doesn't actually require them to capture any carbon or limit CO2, contact the Illinois EPA by November 20th. If you want to comment on the Environmental Impact Statement being conducted for the federal loan to finance this boondoggle, contact the US Department of Energy by email TEC-EIS@hq.doe.gov.

Posted by Will at 5:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (4) | TrackBacks (0)

Five out of seven Republicans running in the primary for Illinois Governor "claim rising temperatures have nothing to do with pollution from cars, factories or power plants." A sixth declined comment.

Dan Proft outdid himself in pandering to the tea-bagger fringe when he called Al Gore and others "enviro-terrorists." So much for civil debate in the Republican primary. Someone should tell Dan that most politically-motivated violence in the U.S. comes from conservative hate-radio fans, not environmentalists.

Despite the shocker, I'm pretty impressed with how the State Journal-Register covered the Republican candidates who deny the science behind global warming.

Most of these articles become a "he said, she said" story with candidates from both parties telling their side. This one starts out that way but goes on to make basic statements of fact that are often missing from political articles on climate change.

The consensus among climate scientists is that global warming is real, man-made and a worsening problem.

Last month, 18 scientific societies in the United States sent Congress a letter saying human activities are the “primary driver” behind global warming. In 2007, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change — a group of hundreds of scientists and representatives of 113 governments — concluded global warming is an “unequivocal” threat and that most of the temperature increase is very likely due to greenhouse gases produced by people.

“We can and we do argue about details of what that means, but at the global scale I don’t think there is much question about it,” said Gabriel Vecchi, a climate researcher with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. “I think the science is clear.”

I'm glad to see this after the SJR skipped covering the 350.org rally, along with many other local environmental events, and has been running misleading editorials from industry interests without a rebuttal. Of course, the talk-radio crowd will dismiss the article as biased, like they do in response to all factual information that counters their views. As Stephen Colbert said, the truth has a well known liberal bias.

Every editor has to decide when educating the public is more important than being "balanced" if one side is clearly determined to distort reality. Too many former news organizations became useless because they accepted the idea that presenting balanced deception is more important than reporting accurate information. They share responsibility for why so many people no longer believe that man-made pollution contributes to global warming, just as they share responsibility for helping Bush mislead the nation into war by failing to challenge his lies.

Posted by Will at 3:33 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

This is the big one. The biggest hearing on the biggest polluters contributing the most to global warming. The EPA is holding a hearing November 19 in Chicago to take public comments on regulating major sources of CO2. It's one of only two hearings on the topic nationally.

A proposed rule change to the Clean Air Act would allow EPA to regulate CO2 from large sources when a polluter modifies an existing facility or builds a new one. A small number of huge factories and power plants produce over half the carbon emissions in the United States. Dealing with them is essential to resolving the climate change crisis, no matter what happens with the Senate energy bill. The new rule would regulate the worst offenders while leaving small businesses and farms alone.

US EPA public hearing on regulating CO2 from large sources
Thursday, November 19, 2009
Anytime between 10am – 7pm
Donald E. Stephens Convention Center
5555 North River Rd, Level 2, Room 46
Rosemont, IL

The Sierra Club will have a room next to the hearing where you can get more information, tips on what to say, listen to a panel discussion and take more action. Download this flier for more info or to sign up to make a public comment. You don't have to be an expert. Anyone can do it. If you've never been to an EPA hearing before then now is the time to go!

Posted by Will at 2:40 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

The next Liberty Brew & View will be a showing of "Food, Inc." sponsored by the Illinois Stewardship Alliance and Food Fantasies.

Food, Inc.
Tuesday, November 17, 7:00
City Nights Theater at Capital City Bar & Grill
3149 S. Dirksen Pkwy, Springfield
Free admission

Food, Inc. Trailer from TakePart on Vimeo.

Many people requested it so I think we'll have a big crowd. There will be no December movie.

Posted by Will at 5:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I wonder how much of the left is too cynical to participate in any political victory. I'm hearing two attitudes often.

"Obama will hurt the progressive movement because his supporters think he's going to solve all our problems for us."

"Obama betrayed us because he didn't immediately pass everything through Congress for us. Where's teh hope and change?"

The only people who think Obama will magically solve every issue for us are his critics who bitch and moan when he doesn't. Maybe we'd get more done if they'd stop complaining about Obama long enough to pressure Congress.

People started saying "where's the hope" a week before Obama took office. It became cliche two days later.

I keep hoping the left will come up with more sophisticated ways to criticize Obama when he deserves it without spreading generalized cynicism and negativity. It doesn't convince most people to do more. It makes them give up and do nothing.

Posted by Will at 1:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

State Representative Mike Boland filed his nominating petitions for Lieutenant Governor Monday. He's the only downstate Democrat running for statewide office in 2010. He filed petitions with signatures from every county in the state. I haven't heard of another candidate doing that this year.

Three Democratic candidates for Lt. Governor filed their petitions close to the deadline. Most campaigners think being first on the ballot will earn a candidate extra votes, but if you're not listed first, being last in a crowded field may help too. So, three Democratic Lt Gov campaigns played a game of chicken at the Board of Elections office to see who would file last without missing the 5:00pm deadline.

Candidate Scott Cohen was there in person and filed late in the day at 4:45. Thomas Castillo probably thought he was the last to file when he rushed in after Cohen at 4:49. They may not have noticed when they walked right by the unassuming volunteer for Boland's campaign who filed after them at 4:51. Mike Boland will be the last name on the ballot.

Posted by Will at 8:40 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

I attended two public hearings in Taylorville recently about the coal gasification and carbon capture plant proposed by Tenaska company. It's a similar project but completely separate from the FutureGen plant proposed in Mattoon. Local press coverage was lacking so I hope to write several posts over the next few days.

Tenaska is asking for a deal that could fix rates for thirty years of guaranteed profits to the company without having to pay a dime for plant construction.

The October 28 Department of Energy hearing was on the Environmental Impact Study, which is part of Tenaska's application for $2.6 Billion in guaranteed federal loans. These won't necessarily be repaid.

During the hearing, several speakers bragged about public financing of the project and promised more to come. A spokesperson for the Illinois Department of Economic Opportunity said his agency spent $2.5 million for front end studies, which was matched by another $2.5 million from the Clean Coal Review Board sponsored by Southern Illinois University. He was also proud of the many hours DCEO employees spent promoting the development of this project, presumably at taxpayer expense.

Additionally, the Illinois Finance Authority approved $500 million in tax exempt bonds. The state is currently financing a blue-ribbon panel to convince us that the plant won't raise electric rates.

But the real stinker is a provision sought by the company in a bill passed by the General Assembly that would allow them to hand the plant over to the Illinois Power Authority after 30 years, along with all debts, legal obligations, and cleanup costs. Tenaska Inc. could continuously refinance their loans on the plant without paying them off for 30 years before handing them over to taxpayers. If something goes wrong with the carbon capture process, which is untested on this scale, taxpayers would pick up the cost of legal liabilities.

The entire bill for building and shutting down the plant could be handed over to the state after the operating company uses fixed rates to guarantee profits for 30 years. What a sweet deal for the company! I wonder if I can get IPA and DOE to co-sign for my new car loan?

Posted by Will at 3:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (1)