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