Washington State Rejects Coal Gasification Power Plant

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http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/nov2007/2007-11-28-091.asp

OLYMPIA, Washington, November 28, 2007 (ENS) - Environmental groups are applauding Tuesday's decision by Washington state siting officials to halt consideration of a proposed coal gasification power plant at the Port of Kalama in southwest Washington state near the Oregon border.

Members of the state's Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council, EFSEC, unanimously rejected the plan by public power agency Energy Northwest for permanently storing, or sequestering, some of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide, CO2, emitted by the power plant as required by state law.

Senate Bill 6001, passed this year by the Washington State Legislature, requires new power plants in the state to emit no more CO2 than would a modern natural gas-fired plant.

The proposed Kalama coal plant could be permitted if its developers produced an acceptable, feasible plan for capturing and storing the excess emissions and made an effort to implement that plan.

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