Council considers alternatives to coal generated electricity

Email To A Friend
Printer Friendly
Comments

---

by Laura Freeman

Reporter

Hudson -- The city is considering adding two coal-burning plants as sources for its electrical power, but one Council member wants to pursue alternative sources, like wind.

Council members may vote on legislation Nov. 7 to add two coal-burning power plants to the city's electrical power portfolio.

The city needs to replace several long-term power providers, according to Public Works Director Priscilla Blanchard.

"There will be no financial impact on the customers' bills as our goal for our portfolio is to keep current rates stable," Blanchard said. "That is why we are using a mix of resources."

Council member Mike Moran would like the city to look at alternatives to coal-burning power plants to produce electricity for the city. He said alternative sources are better than coal because they are renewable and would cost less in the long run.

"The renewable resources costs relative to coal are competitive," Moran said.

Legislation proposes that the city purchase six megawatts of power from the American Municipal Power Generating Station project and 10 megawatts of power from the Prairie State Energy Campus. Both are coal-burning facilities.

"With a coal facility the power is constant and reliable," Blanchard said. "The facilities are state of the art and meet or exceed all pollution controls."

The two coal-burning projects would meet about half the city's electrical needs, Blanchard said. Other projects would diversify the city's portfolio.

Blanchard said the city's portfolio contains two hydro projects and a landfill gas project, but Moran said he would like to see more renewable energy projects like wind, hydro and solar power.

"Renewable energy is a smarter way to go than the old coal source," Moran said. "Coal will always be part of the mix, but it doesn't need to be a greater part of the mix."

On Oct. 9, Mac Thompson, vice president of power supply services from American Municipal Power-Ohio Inc., told Council members about alternative conservation projects.

Thompson said hydro, wind and other conservation projects were popular, but lack of supply and high demand increased the price and they were not as reliable as coal-burning facilities.

Blanchard said Oct. 10 the city would pay $57 per megawatt at the AMPGS facility in 2013 compared to $58 per megawatt in 2007 at the coal-burning facility the city now uses.

"Coal will increase in cost while wind is free," Moran said. "Wind looks like a viable option and only gets better as years go by."

Blanchard said if a renewable energy project is considered by AMP-Ohio, she would bring it back to Council which could look at costs and determine if it was a good investment for Hudson.

"Our portfolio allows us to add new projects," Blanchard said.

E-mail: lfreeman@recordpub.com

Phone: 330-688-0088 ext. 3150