Sandi Tabor V.P. Government Affairs Lignite Energy Council Sandi Tabor V.P. Government Affairs...

Sandi Tabor V.P. Government Affairs

Lignite Energy

Council

Sandi Tabor V.P. Government Affairs

Lignite Energy

Council

Environmental IssuesEnvironmental Issues

Environmental Issues Environmental Issues

Water quality

Waste management

Air quality

Global Climate Change

Water quality

Waste management

Air quality

Global Climate Change

Water is essential for use in the process of generating electricity

Processes include

Cooling water

Steam turbines

Drinking / sanitary uses

Fire protection

Environmental impacts

Intake structure designs

Heat

Water is essential for use in the process of generating electricity

Processes include

Cooling water

Steam turbines

Drinking / sanitary uses

Fire protection

Environmental impacts

Intake structure designs

Heat

WaterWater

Coal Combustion Products (CCPs)

The solid residue left when combustible material is thoroughly burned includes:

Fly ash

Bottom ash

Boiler slag

Material generated through flue gas cleaning

Flue gas desulfurization material - gypsum

Coal Combustion Products (CCPs)

The solid residue left when combustible material is thoroughly burned includes:

Fly ash

Bottom ash

Boiler slag

Material generated through flue gas cleaning

Flue gas desulfurization material - gypsum

Waste ManagementWaste Management

Beneficial Uses of Coal Combustion Products

Air QualityAir Quality

Federal Clean Air Act regulates criteria pollutants -

National Ambient Air Quality Standards;

Carbon monoxide

Lead

Nitrogen dioxide

Particulate matter

Ozone

Sulfur dioxide

Federal Clean Air Act regulates criteria pollutants -

National Ambient Air Quality Standards;

Carbon monoxide

Lead

Nitrogen dioxide

Particulate matter

Ozone

Sulfur dioxide

Air QualityAir Quality

Clean Air Act:

Designed to protect citizens including the most sensitive (children, people with asthma & older adults) individuals from air pollution

Clean Air Act:

Designed to protect citizens including the most sensitive (children, people with asthma & older adults) individuals from air pollution

Google Earth Emission file: http://www.epa.gov/air/emissions/where.htm

Sources of EmissionsSources of Emissions

Source: EPA

0 50000 100000 150000 200000

Miscellaneous

Industrial Processes

Fires

Waste Disposal

Electricity Generation

Fossil Fuel Combustion

Residential Wood Combustion

Non Road Equipment

On Road VehiclesTotal

Emissions

155,921

79,515

14,583

6,630

5,155

2,282

1,319

375

41

Tons

Carbon Monoxide Emissions by Source Sector in North Dakota in 2005

Sources of EmissionsSources of Emissions

Source: EPA

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7

Waste Disposal

Miscellaneous

Fossil FuelCombustion

ElectricityGeneration

IndustrialProcesses

Non RoadEquipment

Total Emissions

6

2

1

0

0

0

Tons

Lead Emissions by Source Sector in North Dakota in 2005

Sources of EmissionsSources of Emissions

Source: EPA

0 2000 4000 6000 8000 10000 12000 14000 16000

Fires

Fossil Fuel Combustion

Electricity Generation

Waste Disposal

Industrial Processes

Residential Wood Combustion

Miscellaneous

Solvent Use

On Road Vehicles

Non Road Vehicles

Total Emissions

14,193

12,687

4,790

3,516

3,180

1,351

887

763

382

303

Tons

Volatile Organic Compounds by Source Sector in North Dakota in 2005

Sources of EmissionsSources of Emissions

Source: EPA

0 10000 20000 30000 40000

Fires

On Road Vehicles

Fossil Fuel Combustion

Waste Disposal

Residential Wood Combustion

Non Road Equipment

Industrial Processes

Electricity Generation

Road Dust

Miscellaneous

Total Emissions

36,533

8,436

6,397

5,745

4,590

1,998

785

764

386

110

Tons

PM2.5 Emissions by Source Sector in North Dakota in 2005

Particulate Matter Particulate Matter

Sources of EmissionsSources of Emissions

Source: EPA 0 50000 100000 150000

Fires

Residential Wood Combustion

Waste Disposal

On Road Vehicles

Industrial Processes

Non Road Equipment

Fossil Fuel Combustion

Electricity Generation

Total Emissions

137,372

12,013

5,996

3,123

443

50

27

21

Tons

Sulfur Dioxide Emissions by Source Sector in North Dakota in 2005

Sources of EmissionsSources of Emissions

Source: EPA 0 20000 40000 60000 80000 100000

Miscellaneous

Fires

Waste Disposal

Residential Wood Combustion

Industrial Processes

Fossil Fuel Combustion

On Road Vehicles

Non Road Equipment

Electricity GenerationTotal

Emissions

76,384

59,714

19,780

10,923

188

179

176

17

1

Tons

Nitrogen Oxides Emissions by Source Sector in North Dakota in 2005

Air is Getting CleanerAir is Getting Cleaner

Industry has met greater electric demand with increasingly cleaner technologies

Industry has met greater electric demand with increasingly cleaner technologies

Source: EPA data 2008

Since 1980 Vehicle

Miles Traveled 91%

U.S. Energy Consumption 29%

U.S. GDP Increased 126%

Aggregate Emissions Decreased 54%

SO2 Emissions Trend in NDSO2 Emissions Trend in ND

Source: ND Department of Health

* Reductions estimated based on new scrubbers

0

50

100

150

200

1998 2007 2013*

Utility Total

To

ns

Per

Yea

r 185K

138K

51K

Air Quality - TR National ParkAir Quality - TR National Park

ND Lignite Industry: Exceeding Environmental Expectations

ND Lignite Industry: Exceeding Environmental Expectations

North Dakota is one of only 12 states to meet all the federal ambient air quality standards

North Dakota is one of only 12 states to meet all the federal ambient air quality standards

Source: EPA, May 1, 2010

Air Monitoring ActivityAir Monitoring Activity

Build your own “air monitors”

Materials:

Container (milk carton or coffee can)

String (for hanging) or pole

Black permanent marker

Vaseline

Hole punch

Magnifying lens

Build your own “air monitors”

Materials:

Container (milk carton or coffee can)

String (for hanging) or pole

Black permanent marker

Vaseline

Hole punch

Magnifying lens

MercuryMercuryEPA’s concern about mercury

Bioaccumulates in food chain

Human exposure through fish consumption

Mercury is a neurotoxin

Selenium protects against mercury toxicity – ND soils are high in selenium

EPA’s concern about mercury

Bioaccumulates in food chain

Human exposure through fish consumption

Mercury is a neurotoxin

Selenium protects against mercury toxicity – ND soils are high in selenium

Selenium in SoilsSelenium in Soils

Background: Mercury is a global issue

Estimated 4400-7500 tons emitted worldwide from all sources – natural & man-made

Estimated 1/3 from natural sources; 2/3 from human activities

U.S. contribution is about 3%

Nationwide coal-fired utilities account for about 48 tons - about 1% of worldwide total mercury release

North Dakota utilities account for 1 ton, about 0.02% of worldwide total mercury release

Background: Mercury is a global issue

Estimated 4400-7500 tons emitted worldwide from all sources – natural & man-made

Estimated 1/3 from natural sources; 2/3 from human activities

U.S. contribution is about 3%

Nationwide coal-fired utilities account for about 48 tons - about 1% of worldwide total mercury release

North Dakota utilities account for 1 ton, about 0.02% of worldwide total mercury release

Mercury is a Global Issue Mercury is a Global Issue

Mercury is a Global Issue Mercury is a Global Issue

Mercury DepositionMercury Deposition

% contribution by non-U.S. sources, 2004

Regional HazeRegional Haze

Goal - return all national parks and wilderness areas (Class 1) to natural conditions by the year 2064

States - establish goals and emission reduction using best available retrofit technology (BART)

Goal - return all national parks and wilderness areas (Class 1) to natural conditions by the year 2064

States - establish goals and emission reduction using best available retrofit technology (BART)

Regional HazeRegional Haze

Regional Haze Sources

Fossil fuels combustion

Open burning

Agriculture

Unpaved roads

Oil and gas extraction

Motor vehicles

Regional Haze Sources

Fossil fuels combustion

Open burning

Agriculture

Unpaved roads

Oil and gas extraction

Motor vehicles

Regional HazeRegional Haze

30 dV visibility vs 10 dV

Courtesy of ENSR

Regional HazeRegional Haze

1.4 dVChange

Regional HazeRegional Haze

Challenge for ND

Already clean air upon which to improve

Significant distances to Class I areas

Small industry base

Crop burning

Prairie fires

Unpaved roads

Challenge for ND

Already clean air upon which to improve

Significant distances to Class I areas

Small industry base

Crop burning

Prairie fires

Unpaved roads

Global Climate ChangeGlobal Climate Change

Controversy AboundsControversy Abounds

Web Sites of Interest

Environmental Protection Agency:

http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change:

http://www.ipcc.ch/

Junk Science: All the Junk that’s Fit to Debunkhttp://junkscience.com/Features.html

Space and Science Research Center:

http://www.spaceandscience.net/id16.html

The Skeptical Environmentalist – Bjorn Lomborghttp://www.lomborg.com

Man-made carbon dioxide emissions are less than 3% of total annual CO2 emissions

Man-made carbon dioxide emissions are less than 3% of total annual CO2 emissions

Issue in Perspective Issue in Perspective

Man-made 2.9%Man-made 2.9%

Natural 97.1%

United States makes up 23% of the 2.9 percent

United States makes up 23% of the 2.9 percent

Sources of U.S. Man-made CO2Sources of U.S. Man-made CO2

Electricity – 40%

Transportation – 34%

Industrial – 17%

Residential – 6%

Co

mm

ercial – 3%

Source: EIA 2007

Sources of ND Man-made CO2 Sources of ND Man-made CO2

Electricity – 59%

Transportation – 13%

Industrial – 24%

Residential – 2% Commercial – 2%

Source: EIA 2007

Sources of MN Man-made CO2Sources of MN Man-made CO2

Electricity – 34%

Transportation – 36%

Industrial – 15%

Residential – 9%

Co

mm

ercial – 6%

Source: EIA 2007

CO2 Emissions: US vs. China & India – (1990-2025)

0

2,500

5,000

7,500

10,0001

99

0

19

95

20

00

20

05

20

10

20

15

20

20

20

25

Mill

ion

Me

tric

To

ns

United States

China/India

Source: Energy Information Administration (EIA), International Energy Annual 2002 & International Energy Outlook 2005

2009

Projected Global Energy DemandProjected Global Energy Demand

Projected 10-Year Growth in Per Capita Energy Use

EIA: 3.5 Billion People to Increase Energy Use by

60% in 10 Years

12%

5%

17%

27%20%

7%

13%

33%

88%36%

4%

37%

What is the Problem?What is the Problem?No commercially available technology to

capture CO2 from pulverized coal power plants

Risks associated with sequestering the CO2 in geologic formations

Global issue requires global solution

Current solutions being considered by Congress not addressing economic impact

No commercially available technology to capture CO2 from pulverized coal power plants

Risks associated with sequestering the CO2 in geologic formations

Global issue requires global solution

Current solutions being considered by Congress not addressing economic impact

CO2 Storage ActivityCO2 Storage Activity

Goal: Students learn about geologic sequestration as a technique used to reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

Objectives: Students will … Understand geologic sequestration as an idea being

considered to reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

Use chemistry to simulate enhanced oil recovery

Goal: Students learn about geologic sequestration as a technique used to reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

Objectives: Students will … Understand geologic sequestration as an idea being

considered to reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere

Use chemistry to simulate enhanced oil recovery

Solutions - Actions Solutions - ActionsWhat can industry do?

What can government do?

What can consumers do?

What can industry do?

What can government do?

What can consumers do?

What can industry do?What can industry do?Develop cost-effective technology to capture

CO2

Diversify energy resource mix

Work with Congress to ensure the passage of legislation that protects the environment and the economy

Encourage the transfer of technologies to third-world countries

Develop cost-effective technology to capture CO2

Diversify energy resource mix

Work with Congress to ensure the passage of legislation that protects the environment and the economy

Encourage the transfer of technologies to third-world countries

CO2 Emission ReductionsCO2 Emission Reductions

Electric companies are world leaders in taking voluntary actions to address GHG emissions

Electric industry leads all other U.S. industrial sectors in reducing CO2

Electric companies are world leaders in taking voluntary actions to address GHG emissions

Electric industry leads all other U.S. industrial sectors in reducing CO2

What can government do? What can government do?

Develop regulations that are synchronized with technology development

Partner with industry to develop

CO2 capture technology for existing plants

Clean coal technology for new plants

Develop regulations that are synchronized with technology development

Partner with industry to develop

CO2 capture technology for existing plants

Clean coal technology for new plants

What can consumers do? What can consumers do?

Change our energy appetites: Energy efficiency

(doing things smarter)

Energy conservation (doing with less)

Change our energy appetites: Energy efficiency

(doing things smarter)

Energy conservation (doing with less)

A. North Dakota lignite industry exceeds environmental expectations

B. Important to maintain affordable and reliable electricity

C. The timing of federal legislation to solve global warming must be in sync with the development of technology to capture CO2

A. North Dakota lignite industry exceeds environmental expectations

B. Important to maintain affordable and reliable electricity

C. The timing of federal legislation to solve global warming must be in sync with the development of technology to capture CO2

SummarySummary