Groups ask for open power plant talks
CARSON CITY -- A coalition of environmental groups has asked the Nevada Department of Environmental Protection to open to the public negotiations over plans to build three coal-fired power plants in the state.
Sierra Pacific Resources, Sithe Global Power and LS Power Associates are in discussions with state environmental regulators over the level of greenhouse gas emissions that will be allowed from any new such power plants.
They already are drafting a memorandum of understanding setting out those standards.
"But to this point, the process has taken place behind closed doors," according to a letter issued by Nevadans for Clean, Affordable, Reliable Energy.
The group said future regulations limiting carbon emissions are a near certainty because coal-fired plants emit large amounts of carbon dioxide.
The coalition told NDEP Administrator Leo Drozdoff that Nevada residents and business owners deserve a voice in the negotiations.
"The worst thing for Nevada would be a toothless agreement to be thrown together in a back room," group spokeswoman Lydia Ball said in a statement.
The coalition includes the Sierra Club, Citizen Alert, the Nevada Conservation League, the Progressive Leadership Alliance of Nevada and the Bristlecone Alliance.
In July, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said the threat of global warming should preclude construction of the coal-fired power plants in White Pine and Lincoln counties in eastern Nevada.
In September, the Nevada Environmental Commission rejected a petition from the coalition trying to stop the three companies from constructing the plants unless they control carbon dioxide emissions.
But commissioners also voted to require NDEP to draw up "memorandums of understanding" requiring the companies to capture carbon dioxide once the technology becomes commercially available.
Representatives from the three companies testified that the technology to capture carbon dioxide won't be available at a reasonable price until at least 2017.
Carbon dioxide emissions are produced when power plants burn coal to generate electricity. Some scientists contend it is the key greenhouse gas emission that causes global warming.
