Saturday, January 31, 2009

HEA Healy Editorial

AN OPEN LETTER TO HEA MEMBERS REGARDING THE HEALY CLEAN COAL PROJECT (A similar letter was delivered earlier to representatives of Homer Electric Members Forum in response to questions about the Healy Clean Coal Project.)

To Homer Electric Members:

One of the principles of a cooperative is member participation and there is no doubt that Homer Electric is committed to that ideal. Recently, there has been much discussion, sometimes heated, about a decision to restart the Healy Clean Coal Project (HCCP). This discussion comes at the same time that Homer Electric members are feeling the effects of significant rate increases. While we may not have consensus on how to move forward with the Healy Clean Coal Project, there is no doubt in my mind that all involved have the same goal: reliable energy at an affordable price. The following is a synopsis of Homer Electric’s involvement with the Healy Clean Coal Project. As with any large project, there are some unanswered questions, but the following is what we know at this time.

BACKGROUND
Let me begin by telling you that it is HEA’s mission to provide its own independent generation starting in January, 2014. This means that in less than five years, HEA will have to obtain or construct approximately 70-80 MWs of new generation. In achieving this goal, HEA is seeking to diversify its generation portfolio to reduce our dependence on natural gas and the volatility associated with the pricing of this fuel source. To this end, HEA is pursuing renewable energy generation alongside more traditional generation technology, such as coal-fired power production.

Given HEA’s relatively short time to acquire new generation, HCCP has the advantage of being an existing facility. Upon acquiring HCCP from the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA), Golden Valley Electric Association (GVEA) expects to bring the facility online in approximately eighteen months to two years. GVEA has given HEA the opportunity to purchase, at cost, up to 50% of the power it generates from the plant. The contract to purchase power from GVEA will satisfy a portion of HEA’s need for new generation and will fulfill the goal of diversifying our generation portfolio. In the larger view, the GVEA transaction would provide approximately 22.5% of the 120-130 MWs of capacity that HEA will require in 2014.

A significant advantage to the GVEA transaction is that it provides HEA with needed capacity but requires no new capital (debt or equity) from HEA. According to HEA’s current power supply study, without the capacity provided by GVEA, HEA would strain its borrowing ability in order to acquire sufficient additional resources. As a result, HEA would not have the capital to use on other energy sources; including developing its own renewable opportunities.

TECHNOLOGY
HCCP was originally designed to burn “waste” coal, essentially a very low BTU content coal that contained a significant amount of impurities that caused undue wear and tear on the system. Complications associated with burning “waste” coal were at the heart of the dispute between GVEA and AIDEA. In spite of burning “waste” coal, the original HCCP did operate successfully for almost two years at full generation capacity. By contrast, when HCCP is restarted it will burn higher quality coal and will no longer try to burn “waste” coal.

As originally designed, HCCP employs an advanced slagging combustor technology that enables burning of the coal in stages to minimize the formation of nitrogen and sulfur oxides. Emissions are further reduced by injection of limestone downstream of the combustion process in conjunction with a Spray Dryer Absorber (SDA). At the time of its conception, it was on the leading edge of technology.

In preparation for restarting HCCP, HEA and AIDEA selected a nationally known engineering firm (Shaw) specializing in coal-fired power plants to perform a comprehensive assessment detailing all work necessary to restart HCCP. Shaw identified systems and tasks that needed modifications and updates prior to restart, but was confident that the plant could be successfully restarted and operated safely and reliably. Through Shaw’s comprehensive assessment of the present status of the plant, we are confident that the plant can be operated successfully.

REGULATIONS
HEA is aware that future regulations will likely affect HCCP; however, these regulations will take several years to develop and implement. In addition, future regulations can and will affect other forms of generation. The Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA’s) latest attempt at regulating mercury emissions failed in the courts and the EPA is working on a redraft of these regulations. Under the failed regulations, HCCP would likely have qualified as a “low mass emitter” and would not have been required to implement any mercury removal technology. We are fortunate that Usibelli coal is relatively low in mercury content compared with Lower 48 sources of coal. Future regulations would have some impact on coal-fired generation, and perhaps other fossil fuel generation as well, but that impact is a matter of speculation at this time. What is likely to happen is that HCCP will operate, with or without HEA participation, under its existing permits.

Technology and equipment does exist for removing mercury from stack emissions. These technologies are effective and efficient and, if necessary, HEA is confident that mercury removal would not cause an unacceptable increase in the price of power out of HCCP.

On the subject of greenhouse gas emissions, HEA is aware that there may be future regulations. The technology to capture and sequester greenhouse gases is in its early developmental stage and a proven technology has not emerged. How any regulations, if implemented, might affect HCCP in the future is not known and HEA cannot quantify the cost of these regulations at this time. One must also recognize that if HCCP is not used to generate the required energy, that energy would be replaced with the use of gas fired generation. Gas fired generation, although it does not have as large a carbon footprint as coal, still has a significant impact on the total amount of emissions. Diversity of location and diversity of sources can only assist in making the emissions impact as small as possible. In a perfect world there would be a source that we could depend on for the base load energy requirements of our members that would have little or no carbon footprint. Unfortunately, that technology is not available at this time.

COAL PRICES
While coal is a non-renewable resource, Alaska is blessed with an abundance of coal resources. In fact, the source for HCCP’s coal (Usibelli Mine) is located in Healy and is expected to last at least 150 years, which is well beyond the expected life of HCCP. HEA, and our experts, expect less volatility in the price of coal than from other fuels such as gas or oil. While the price of coal will reflect the current economic conditions and trends, coal is insulated from radical price fluctuations because of the terms and long duration of typical coal purchase contracts. While coal may never be as cheap as state or federally subsidized hydroelectric power, it is not likely to exceed the price of natural gas or oil fired generation. Hence, HEA expects that HCCP will, over the long term, provide a stabilizing influence on our price of power. Again, this perfectly matches HEA’s strategy of balancing its generation portfolio to achieve stable long term rates for our members.

Your HEA Board and management are doing their best to bring HEA ratepayers the most cost effective and stable power possible. This challenge involves balancing a complex blend of interests, relationships and technologies. By agreeing to equally share both the cost and power output from HCCP with GVEA, HEA is effectively splitting any future risk for its members.

I appreciate the interest and concerns of all HEA members and hope this information will give you confidence that the HEA Board is making the best possible decision based upon solid engineering recommendations with due consideration given to future risks. While you may not be completely in support of the HCCP project, I hope you will find reason to support the Board’s action in delivering a project that provides diversity and long term stability to our average price for power.

Sincerely,
Brad Janorschke
General Manager
Homer Electric Association, Inc.

Friday, January 30, 2009

Forum Reponse to HEA Healy Editorial

An Open Response to Homer Electric Association’s “Open Letter to HEA Members Regarding the Healy Clean Coal Project”

It was good that HEA General Manager Brad Janorschke took out a full page ad to share his response to the HEA Members Forum’s January 16 letter. While that response made clear his continued support for a coal-fired power plant to light our homes, it failed to address some vital issues that will determine whether HEA member/ratepayers continue to pay escalating power costs. HEA Members Forum participants can’t afford to buy that much advertising but will attempt to review and clarify those issues below.

General Background
It’s important for all HEA memeber/ratepayers to recognize that HEA recently agreed to terms with Golden Valley Electric Association (GVEA) and the Alaska Industrial Development and Export Authority (AIDEA) to re-start the problem-plagued Healy Coal Plant No. 2 near Denali. At the February 10 Board meeting HEA will consider whether to lock these terms into a long term contract – a contract that will last for as long as the Healy plant burns coal.

Under the terms, HEA will be required to buy half the power produced at the coal plant. So far so good. But here’s the catch: there’s no cap on the price we’ll have to pay for the power from Healy! So, GVEA will borrow roughly $95 million to re-start the facility, then they’ll turn around and stick us with the restart and operating costs in the form of higher electric rates! While HEA’s books may not show a debt liability for new capital costs, you can be sure your electric bill will reflect these pass-through costs.

But that’s just the beginning. State and federal governments have poured over $300 million into Healy’s experimental technology. Yet according to GVEA, the Healy Coal Plant never worked as designed and could not be run in a safe, efficient and economical manner. That’s why it sat idle for the past decade. Even the Department of Energy – the agency touting this unproven technology – conceded the facility would be expensive to run and parts would be hard to find.

There are other risks and unknowns. For example, HEA and its partners have completely ignored the costs likely to flow from anticipated mercury and greenhouse controls. While proponents like to refer to the “clean coal” aspects of Healy, the fact remains the facility cannot address mercury and CO2 emissions. Whether through rules or taxes or cap and trade systems, the writing is on the wall that coal-fired power plants will face rising operating costs. That means higher costs for ratepayers.

Finally, there’s the invariable fuel cost increases dictated by the laws of supply and demand. Remember when natural gas in Cook Inlet was cheap? That’s before demand rose, supplies fell and we tied our gas prices to Outside price indexes. The same exact thing will happen with coal. While Alaska has enormous coal reserves, the price for coal is set by international markets. So, once those Asian markets heat back up – and they most certainly will – their energy appetite will help drive up the cost of coal in Alaska. And if we buy into Healy, that means you’re rates will go up with the price of coal.

So, what’s the answer? HEA should divert the time and money being wasted on resurrecting a defective, outdated coal plant to serious efforts toward supporting development of renewable base load technologies. Folks laughed when the Bradley Lake Hydroelectric facility in Kachemak Bay was built because, at a time, natural gas was cheap and Bradley Lake power looked expensive. But Bradley Lake operates without fuel costs, so it’s producing power for the same costs it did 20 years ago. The proposed Lake Chakachamna hydro project promises to do the same, as would development of Mt. Spurr geothermal leases. We still have a lot of natural gas on the Kenai Peninsula which can be the bridge fuel we need during development of such longer term solutions.

Instead of looking backwards to coal, HEA has an opportunity to look ahead, to clean, fixed cost power and the sustainable jobs and economies it can produce.

Independent Generation by 2009

Brad states that “...it is HEA’s mission to provide its own independent generation starting in January 2009...” It is difficult to understand how an agreement to purchase energy from GVEA at an unspecified price for 25-50 years will achieve a goal such as this? Has Brad discovered a new definition for “independent?” And is such an objective even desirable? To meet our growing energy need it is more likely that, as envisioned by Governor Palin, greater cooperation between railbelt utilities will be required.

Diversification
Strategic diversification of the sources from which HEA acquires energy can make sense, but diversification for diversification sake does not. In a time of unprecedented rate increases, every source we incorporate into our energy mix needs to do more than provide a few additional MW of electricity. Each source must make economic sense for HEA member/ratepayers. Each source must provide energy at a competitive price when compared to all other options. Far more important, any new source must have a high likelihood of helping stabilize ratepayer costs over the long term. This can only be evaluated through careful assessment of technological, regulatory, legal, and commodity market issues relevant to each proposed new energy source.

HEA’s management and Board have failed to provide evidence of any comprehensive effort to compare Healy 2 to other short-term energy options available to us. Likewise, there is no indication that a meaningful assessment has been done of potential long-term impacts of the Healy 2 deal on our electric rates.

No New Capital Required from HEA
The fact that terms agreed to with AIDEA, GVEA require no “up-front” costs for HEA might be comforting to management and Board but should scare the pants of HEA member/ratepayers. The terms would have us commit to letting GVEA recover all costs associated with restart and operation of Healy 2 by increasing the rate they charge us for power. There is no limit on this. The arrangement allows management to make the coop books look good by not incurring debt or making a large expenditure of funds. For this, our monthly electric bills will continuously increase.

Technology
Access to all technological studies of Healy 2, including the complete Shaw report, has been denied to HEA members. Repeated requests have been made for these over the last 18 months, to no avail, until last week. Volume One of the Shaw report was delivered to one Forum participant. After additional requests for Volume Two, he was finally told that he could pick it up at the Homer HEA office. While it would be worthwhile to review this report, one should read with the understanding that it is not a thirdparty assessment of the technological considerations. The Shaw report was commissioned by the three parties intent on justifying their plan to restart Healy 2. Still, it would be interesting to see how Shaw attempts to refute several earlier engineering assessments which concluded that the plant could not be operated economically without removal of the so-called “clean coal” components.

Even the US Department of Energy -- a major supporter of the project -- couldn’t say much good about Healy 2. While the 2003 DOE Assessment concludes that Healy 2 “...operated for the required 90 days on coal typical of that expected from the Usibelli Mine,” it goes on to equivocate -- “However, because the properties of the coal burned during the 90-day test differed slightly from those specified in the test protocol, the HCCP was not deemed to have passed the 90-day commercial operating test...” In conclusion, DOE admits that, “Economically, costs appear to be in the upper range when compared to those for competing boiler types.” And finally, “...acquisition of TRW [the company responsible for Healy 2 technology] by Northrop Grumman casts doubt on the potential for commercialization of this technology.” That means it will be very difficult to find parts and expertise to maintain Healy 2 even if it is successfully started.

Regulation
How rational and fiscally responsible is it for HEA management and Board to omit consideration of potential costs associated with increasing federal regulation of coal plants when evaluating the viability of the proposed Healy 2 deal? In spite of Brad’s assertions to the contrary, these changes are on a fast track.

On March 15, 2005, EPA issued the Clean Air Mercury Rule, which creates performance standards and establishes permanent, declining caps on mercury emissions. Usibelli coal may be relatively low in mercury but no figures are given, no estimates of potential Healy 2 mercury emissions are stated, and no comparison is made to EPA requirements. The Obama Administration is unlikely to allow a waiver for Healy 2. Installation and maintenance of mercury emission control equipment will add significant costs to the Healy plant. Utilities know what those costs are. They should be considered up front in calculations for Healy 2.

Last November the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Environmental Appeals Board ruled that, in light of a May 2007 Supreme Court decision that recognized CO2 as a pollutant under the federal Clean Air Act, EPA must regulate CO2 emissions from coal-fired power plants. President Barack Obama has made reduction of CO2 a major priority for his Administration. On January 22, the EPA placed a hold on approval of a coal-fired power plant in South Dakota, because the state’s proposed permit for the plant didn’t meet Clean Air Act requirements.

Following two recent disasters involving massive fly-ash pollution events from two different U.S. coal plants there is movement in Congress to force EPA to regulate such ash as a toxic and hazardous substance.

Coal Prices
Assumptions that coal costs will remain low over time do not reflect reality. According to a July article from the AllBusiness website, coal prices are predicted to rise dramatically -- “At the recent Reuters Global Energy Summit in Houston, Arch Coal CEO Steve Leer said the coal shortage across the globe could last three years. ‘In 2008, we estimate we're 25 to 35 million tons short across the globe,’ Leer told the summit, adding that he sees that virtually doubling by the end of 2009.” In reference to the December 2008 World Coal Assessment 2009 presented by International Commodities Trading and Consulting Company, Cyrios, Inc., President Albert Abkarian stated that, "We are projecting that the lower coal prices are temporary and that the prices will increase between 20 and 30 percent within the next six months.”

In addition, Healy 2 will have only one source for coal -- the Usibelli mine. Without competition there is no reason for Usibeli to enter into an agreement that limits his future profit. This is especially so since the mine hopes to export as much coal as possible to other countries who, in light of the predicted global shortage, are likely to compete with GVEA for the product. While coal contracts may typically be long-term arrangements, we have seen no indication of price or duration for a potential agreement between GVEA and Usibelli.

It’s difficult to see how HEA’s management and Board can to be looking out for member/ratepayer interests by pursuing the Healy 2 boondoggle. Their assumption that becoming involved in a bargain with AIDEA and GVEA absent any adequate assessment of the technical, regulatory, and financial risks point in quite the opposite direction. Until the people running our coop can show us some factual bases for their enthusiasm toward this potentially rate-raising proposal, an increasing number of HEA members will join in active opposition. Given our recent electric bills, none of us can afford to remain complacent.

Sincerely,
Mike O’Meara, Spokesman
Homer Electric Association Members Forum

Sunday, January 25, 2009

What is HEA Members Forum?

HEA Members Forum is a growing ad hoc group of approximately 300 Homer Electric Association members who support our rural power cooperative and other “railbelt” utilities in efforts to adopt clean, affordable, and sustainable alternatives to fossil fuels. An original forum participant list of about 209 people was put together from a petition on energy issues presented to HEA at the May 2008 annual Board meeting. This list continues to grow.

HEA Members Forum is dedicated to reform of our rural electric cooperative. We have five major objectives:

1. Encourage a policy of openness and responsiveness by HEA Management and Board.
2. Improve member participation in our cooperative’s affairs.
3. Improve rate stability and minimize increases by getting more of our electricity from renewable energy.
4. Encourage efficient use and conservation of energy.
5. Increase “railbelt” operational efficiency through greater collaboration among utilities.

Members Forum participants interact primarily by sharing e-mail updates and action alerts and by telephone. Past information updates can be viewed along with related information at

heamembersforum.blogspot.com

HEA Members Forum, 3734 Ben Walters Lane, Homer, AK 99603

Mike O’Meara, Spokesman
907-399-4022
membersforum@horizonsatellite.com

Jerry Brookman, Kenai Spokesman
907-283-9329
brookman@alaska.net