Fielding FutureGen Questions

Fielding FutureGen Questions

Jun 20 - Odessa American

It's been more than 25 years since a power plant of the scope of the FutureGen plant has been constructed anywhere in the nation.

Thomas Sarkus, project director of the FutureGen plant, said in days past there was an acronym that grew up around the power plant industry -- NIMBY: Not In My Back Yard. No one wanted a plant near their home.

With FutureGen, Sarkus said, there's a new acronym.

"We tell a joke about it at the Department of Energy. It's BIIMBY -- Build It In My Back Yard," Sarkus, who is with the Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory, told about 40 Odessa and Midland residents who attended the open house Tuesday at UTPB's CEED.

FutureGen Environmental Manager Mark McKoy said traditionally power plants haven't been welcomed, but the four remaining sites in the national competition to host the $1.5 billion demonstration project that is intended to produce the world's first coal-fired near-zero-emissions power plant all want it.

And while the possibility for the plant going in someone's back yard is good, it's not for certain.

As to the possibility the project could be scrapped late in the game as was the earlier Superconducting Super Collider, Sarkus admitted, "There's always a chance it could happen."

But, he said, "We work on the premise this project is going to go forward."

While it's not possible to predict what the Congress might do, he said, "Everything we've asked for has been funded."

Sarkus noted that the international companies involved in the FutureGen Alliance are all behind the FutureGen project because they understand the importance of energy produced through a clean process such as clean coal technology.

The FutureGen Industrial Alliance's member companies provide energy to tens of millions of U.S. and international residential, business and industrial customers. Member companies have global operations serving customers in Asia, Australia, Canada, continental Europe, the People's Republic of China, South Africa, South America and the United States.

Sarkus said FutureGen "is going to be an R&D (research and development) test bed."

In the meantime, McKoy did note that the plume of CO2 that is to be injected underground can be controlled by such factors as water that is present in the formation. He also noted that the CO2 would migrate up underground slopes. But much of the project still is an unknown, he said.

The alliance representatives carefully avoided getting too specific on questions regarding particular sites, such as Penwell.

Sarkus did say the FutureGen process has been rewarding from the standpoint of watching the energy industry come together.

"This is not just about mining coal," Sarkus said at the hearing. "... We're looking for concern from the community."

On questions about individual sites, the FutureGen representatives said the Permian Basin FutureGen Task Force is "an incredible team that has been working well to do your Best And Final Offer."

Both Stephanie Sparkman, spokeswoman for the local task force, and Hoxie Smith, FutureGen project director, were present for the hearing.

Others present for the open house and impact statement hearing included FutureGen Texas Chairman Michael L. Williams, as well as about 40 other Odessans and Midlanders.

"We hope they come and learn about the project," McKoy said.

Sarkus added, "Sometimes we see apathy. I would encourage people to get involved and learn about energy."

Community involvement is essential to the project, Sarkus said. The Department of Energy and FutureGen Alliance absolutely are looking for a BIIMBY community.

"You don't want to go somewhere where you're not welcome, not wanted," he said.

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