Alliant Clears Major Hurdle For Marshalltown Coal Plant
Members of The Iowa Utilities Board voted 2-1 in favor of Alliant Energy’s plan to build a 630-megawatt coal plant in Marshalltown.
May 8, 2008
By Tammy R. Lawson
MC Sun Staff Writer
For three hours, you could have heard a pin drop anywhere in the room.
Fate lay in the hands of the Iowa Utilities Board, which after much deliberation on everything from greenhouse gasses to economic growth, was sealed in a 2-1 favored victory for Interstate Power and Light Company (a subsidiary of Alliant Energy) to proceed with construction of its 630-megawatt coal/biomass plant in Marshalltown.
But unlike corn stalks the facility would burn, the April 30th decision wasn’t as cut and dried.
Board Chairman John Norris attached stipulations to the approved permit:
*Five percent of the plant’s electric generation must be derived from biomass within two years and 10 percent stemming from biomass within five years;
*Alliant must generate 10 percent of its energy from renewable sources by 2013 (the projected start of service) and another 25 percent from renewable sources by 2028;
*If regulations are passed by Congress for the capture of carbon dioxide emissions, Alliant would be totally responsible for those emission costs without executing rate increases.
“I do think it would be a wise decision to wait a couple of years and see what strides have been made in carbon capturing,” Norris said. “But in looking at the big picture, I don’t know if all that much will change during that time.”
Board member Darrell Hanson, who voted against granting the certificate, had reservations. “I think the company may have aimed unrealistically high in assuming the cost alternatives for carbon constraints. We could approve this, but what happens if we’re wrong? You have to look at the risks and the consequences. It’s a matter of, which risk are we willing to take?”
“I think these conditions are reasonable,” said Board member Krista Tanner. “I also think as far as renewable energy goes, this application satisfies that.”
Norris added that the stipulations would reduce the burden of higher rates. “Consumers do have a lot of financial risk here, and this will add generation for the company’s customer base to support reliability, while providing continued incentive for wind/renewable energy-not only at this plant, but throughout the entire fleet in Iowa.”
IPL President Tom Aller said it was understandable for the regulatory body to add what ever conditions they wanted to the decision. “They represent our customers and the people of our state, so that’s what their job is. We take no issue whatsoever with the board wanting to condition the first part of this case.”
Mayor Gene Beach, also in attendance, was satisfied. “I believe that this is just the first step on many good announcements to come as a result of IPL selecting Marshalltown as its site for the most efficient plant in the Midwest.”
The following day, Beach received a phone call from Newton Mayor Chaz Allen, who’s city is constructing a 1.5 megawatt wind turbine facility, congratulating Marshalltown on its accomplishment.
“We discussed how the proposed plant will benefit all of us with jobs during construction, as well as the generation fees that will be coming in once generation starts,” Beach said. “We also discussed how the new TPI blade plant in Newton will fit nicely with Alliant’s wind generation plans…this means a great deal for the city, the area, and the state.”
But while the celebrating commenced for some, disappointment ensued for others, bringing the old saying “it ain’t over ’til it’s over” into play.
Speculation is high that Plains Justice attorneys Carrie La Seur and Jana Linderman, who represented five environmental organizations opposing the plant during January’s IUB hearing, may appeal the decision and block the necessary air quality permit from the Iowa Department of Natural Resources which is due by September, and contingent upon the final written decision expected in a few weeks.
“We believe that we prevailed on most factual issues and are very disappointed that the IUB didn’t rule in our favor,” La Seur said. “We are pleased with the Board’s recognition of its obligation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. However, we remain concerned with the negative environmental impacts of this plant, and it is far from clear that this ruling will do anything to meaningfully reduce [those] emissions all the members identified as a problem.”
Linderman added, “While we had asked that the Board deny the certificate, their approval is subject to a number of major conditions, and we will have to review the final written order carefully before making a firm decision how to respond.”
Denison native Jim Hansen, head of the NASA Goddard Institute for Space Studies in New York, also testified in January and was equally disappointed with the vote. “The decision makes no sense for the people of Iowa and the creatures of the planet. It especially short changes our children and grandchildren for the short term benefit of a small number of special interests who benefit by the burning of a cheap, dirty fuel.”
He continued, “Coal serves the interest of only a handful of oligarchs, but our officials are letting these special interests ride roughshod over the public, our planet, and creation. This is a case of cutting the baby in half-a dastardly deed. Somebody had better object real soon.”
Until the DNR decision is handed down on air quality, plant supporters like local Alliant representative Kenn Vinson are basking in the after-vote, for now. “An extremely big hurdle has been cleared.”
Marshall County Sun© Copyright 2008
