EPA identifies Nevada power-generation plant as heavy polluter
Las Vegas Review-Journal --Oct. 21
Oct. 21--The future of the Mohave Generating Station remains undecided after a proposal late Wednesday that urged denial of a conditional certificate for continued operation of the plant.
The Hopi Tribe and neighboring Navajo Nation in northeastern Arizona wanted
the California Public Utilities Commission to issue a conditional certificate
for continued operation of the coal-fired plant in Laughlin.
However, Southern California Edison, operator and part-owner of the plant,
opposes the certificate to continue operations because several key issues remain
unresolved. As a result, Edison may close the 1,200-megwatt plant at the end of
2005.
The proposed order now goes to the full California Public Utilities
Commission for final action.
Despite the proposal, one Hopi Tribe official was upbeat.
"I am very encouraged by the proposed decision, which recognizes the
value of the plant to ratepayers and finds the expenditures necessary to
preserve the plant to be reasonable," James Ham, an attorney for the Hopi
Tribe, commented in an e-mail.
"I am also gratified that the proposed decision directs Edison and the
parties to explore additional energy projects supplemental to Mohave that will
provide additional benefit to the Hopi and Navajo people, allowing them to build
a sustainable economy and increase employment," Ham said.
The power plant is a source of low-cost electricity for Nevada Power Co. of
Las Vegas, Edison and other utilities. It creates jobs for Hopi and Navajo
Indians who mine coal that is transported to the Laughlin plant by a slurry
line.
However, the Environmental Protection Agency this summer declared that Mohave
caused more lead pollution than any other coal- or oil-fired power plant in the
nation.
Environmental groups, including the Sierra Club, sued and in 1999 persuaded
the power plant owners to agree to either install pollution control equipment
costing $1.1 billion or shut the plant down by the end of 2005.
"Until there is resolution of the water and coal supply and cost issues,
this Commission does not have enough data to determine if the future functioning
of Mohave as a coal-burning facility is in the public interest and that the
necessary $1.1 billion investment will inure to the benefit of the Edison
ratepayers," the proposed order states.
The order directs Edison to continue funding studies of an alternative
underground water source for the coal slurry line and to continue working toward
resolution of water and coal issues.
It also orders Edison to investigate alternative power resources, including
the possibility of replacing it with a solar power plant.
If the power plant is permanently closed, Edison may ask California
regulators to approve its share of expenses for abandoning the plant.
-----
To see more of the Las Vegas Review-Journal, or to subscribe to the
newspaper, go to http://www.lvrj.com .
(c) 2004, Las Vegas Review-Journal. Distributed by Knight
Ridder/Tribune Business News. For information on republishing this content,
contact us at (800) 661-2511 (U.S.), (213) 237-4914 (worldwide), fax (213)
237-6515, or e-mail reprints@krtinfo.com. SRP, EIX,