tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23751890.post5878992635796609086..comments2024-01-28T09:27:20.490-06:00Comments on Century of the Common Iowan: Alliant Drops Plans for Marshalltown Coal Plantnoneed4thneedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00722983760373724246noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23751890.post-53743852134756361082009-03-05T21:09:00.000-06:002009-03-05T21:09:00.000-06:00Ben,There is plenty to replace the coal plant, off...Ben,<BR/><BR/>There is plenty to replace the coal plant, off the shelf technology to boot. First of all, according to a study funded by Alliant itself, they have more energy efficiency potential to capture than the Marshalltown plant would have generated. Plus efficiency is a lot cheaper. And if and when we do need more generating capacity, how about well proven, biomass-driven combined heat and power applications at our numerous ethanol plants? Lots of generating potential there. And if ethanol plants are to be able to comply with future low carbon fuel standards, they will need to get rid of their fossil fuel power anyways. This would also solve the problem rural coops keep whining about, claiming they need a coal plant to power all those "renewable" fuel facilities. If the REC's got their heads out of their asses, they could turn this challenge into a great opportunity for themselves and their farmer members.<BR/><BR/>Overall, a great day for Iowa. A coal plant would have been an extremely risky investment for Iowa ratepayers.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23751890.post-77860518812125197382009-03-05T20:48:00.000-06:002009-03-05T20:48:00.000-06:00I would feel a whole lot better about a moritorium...I would feel a whole lot better about a moritorium on "20th century technologies" like coal fired plants if anyone could point me to a "21st century technology" that is "shovel ready" to begin meeting our energy needs. I'm -all- for renewable fuels taking the place of fossil fuels but I think everyone can agree that we're just not there yet.<BR/><BR/>Until research and econimics met up and clean energy can assume the place on the grid that everyone wants it too, it doesn't do smaller communities like Marshalltown any good to cut off our nose to spite our face.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23751890.post-12620948589589531072009-03-05T19:17:00.000-06:002009-03-05T19:17:00.000-06:00This seems to be a controversial and complex issue...This seems to be a controversial and complex issue. While I'm sad to see Marshalltown miss out on a gigantic economic boost. I am glad that "clean coal" has been exposed, and according to "Ben" above, he seems not to have bought into that argument. My hope is that, as our energy demands increase we make more than a 10% commitment to bio/wind energy combinations to fuel our needs. I'm surprised at the clout of the environmental movement in this state and their organization. Perhaps people should respect their organizational strength. I sure do now.MrScarletWhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13018894183683247373noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23751890.post-37538956383306101692009-03-05T14:34:00.000-06:002009-03-05T14:34:00.000-06:00I don't think Alliant will be able to just pick up...I don't think Alliant will be able to just pick up and build somewhere else. Not sure of the stat exactly, but something like 55 coal plants have been denied nation wide since 2005. Alliant had a plant denied in Wisconsin last fall.<BR/><BR/>With the economy, uncertainty about federal regulation, and a push for renewable energy it just is not a good time to be investing billions in 20th century technology.noneed4thneedhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00722983760373724246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23751890.post-64451616487840281792009-03-05T13:34:00.000-06:002009-03-05T13:34:00.000-06:00I'm not insensitive to the environmental impacts o...I'm not insensitive to the environmental impacts of the coal plant. I don't buy the "clean coal" propoganda, though I do think that capturing fine particulates would probably be doable. I would also point out that there would have been a biomass and wind energy component to the propossed plant, not to mention it would have been vastly more efficient then the old coal plant currently in Marshalltown.<BR/><BR/>After doing a cost/benefit analysis, what angers me about Marshalltown loosing the plant is that Alliant will just build it somewhere else. All that the IUB and DNR have done is ensure that some other town in some other state will get the $1.8 billion dollar boost to their economy during this recession. Given the economic situation, don't kid yourself into thinking that there won't be a community and state more then happy to welcome a $1.8 billion project. All the environmental effects will happen anyway, it's just that some other town will reap the positives.<BR/><BR/>It's a bad day for Marshalltown.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com