Washington (state) and coal

{{#badges: CoalSwarm}}

Contents

Introduction

Washington coal mines produced 2.6 million tons of coal in 2006 (0.2% of the U.S. total); Washington ranks 21st out of the 50 states in terms of coal production. The coal industry employed 673 miners in Washington in 2006, all of whom were unionized, and all of whom were engaged in surface mining.

Washington has one coal-fired generating station, the Centralia Power Plant, with 1460 MW of capacity, representing 5.2% of the state's total electric generating capacity; Washington ranks 38th out of the 50 states in terms of coal energy production. In 2006, Washington's coal-fired power plants produced 12.1 million tons of CO₂, 2,000 tons of sulfur dioxide, and 8,000 tons of nitrogen oxide; coal-fired power plants were responsible for 15.4% of the state's total CO₂ emissions. In 2005, Washington emitted 12.5 tons of CO₂ per person, somewhat more than half the U.S. average. This lower level of CO₂ emissions is due largely to the fact that hydroelectric power makes up 74.9% of the state's generating capacity.

Citizen activism

On September 28, 2009 Earthjustice, on behalf of the Sierra Club, National Parks Conservation Association and the Northwest Environmental Defense Center, filed an appeal to challenge the renewal of an air pollution permit for the TransAlta coal-fired plant located in Centralia, Washington. The groups are asking for tighter controls on nitrogen oxide emissions from the plant.

Doug Howell, senior representative for the Sierra Club’s Coal-Free Northwest campaign commented:

In Washington state, TransAlta, as the number one source of global warming, mercury and haze pollution, has had a free ride for too long. This old, filthy coal-fired plant must be seen for what it is and now is the time to hold the coal plant accountable to fulfill its obligations to address known pollutants to protect our health, environment and economy.

History

The state's first coal mine opened in 1853, near Bellingham. By 1880, all of the state's limited number of economically feasible coal deposits were being mined. Coal production reached 2 million tons per year by 1900, and 4 million tons by 1918.

During the 1910's and 20's, hydroelectric dams began to be built on a large scale in Washington, culminating with President Roosevelt's New Deal in the 1930's, and with the completion of the Grand Coulee Dam (which remains the fourth biggest hydroelectric plant in the world) in 1942. Washington's coal industry suffered dramatically as a result of the rise of hydroelectricity: production dropped below 2 million tons by the early 30's, dropped further to 1 million tons in the late 40's, and reached a lowpoint of 37,000 tons in 1970.

Since then, the construction of the Centralia Power Plant - completed in 1972-73 - has dramatically revitalized Washington's coal mining industry. Production has totaled 4-5 million tons per year since the late 1970's. However, deteriorating conditions at the Centralia mine - the state's largest - led TransAlta to close the mine in Nov. 2006; Washington's coal production thus declined from 5.3 million tons in 2005 to 2.5 million tons in 2006.

In May 2007, Gov. Gregoire signed Substitute Senate Bill 6001, which committed the state to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by 2020, and to 50% below 1990 levels by 2050. Consequently, in Nov. 2007, a state regulator rejected Energy Northwest's application to build the coal-fired Pacific Mountain Energy Center near Kalama, arguing that the company's proposed CO₂ reduction system “is a plan to make a plan” and “fails to meet the minimum requirements of the law” that the state passed in May. Currently, Edison International and three power co-ops are proposing to build a carbon capture and storage plant - the Wallula Energy Resource Center - near Gig Harbor, WA; the permitting process with the state EPA has not yet begun.

Proposed coal plants

Active

• Wallula Energy Resource Center, Gig Harbor, WA

Cancelled

• Pacific Mountain Energy Center, Kalama, WA

Coal power companies

• Summit Power Group
  • Headquarters in Bainbridge Island, WA
  • Active proposals: Lower Columbia Clean Energy Center
• TransAlta
• Edison International

Existing coal plants

Washington had one coal-fired power plant in 2005, with 1460 MW of capacity - representing 5.2% of the state's total electric generating capacity:

Plant Name	County	Owner	Year(s) Built	Capacity	2007 CO2 Emissions	2006 SO2 Emissions	SO2/MW Rank
Centralia	Lewis	TransAlta	1972, 1973	1460 MW	12,100,000 tons	1,668 tons	264

This one plant represents 15.4% of the state's total CO₂ emissions.

Centralia Power Plant <googlemap version="0.9.4" zoom="15" lat="46.753833" lon="-122.853833" type="satellite"> </googlemap>

Centralia to cut some emissions

In April 2009, TransAlta Corp. agreed to reduce Centralia's mercury and nitrogen oxide emissions. Washington's only coal-fired power plant will reduce mercury pollution by 50 percent and its NOx pollution by 20 percent in 2009. The company estimates the reductions will cost between $20 million and $30 million.

The deal was brokered confidentially by officials from Governor Gregoire's office and the state Ecology Department. Critics say the process should have gone through public channels, and that the cuts called for by the agreement are too small and enable the plant to continue adding smog to the region. Keith Phillips, the governor's environmental policy advisor, has promised a public hearing before the deal is signed.

Major coal mines

There are no major coal mines in Washington.

Citizen groups

• Sierra Club Cascade Chapter
• Washington Environmental Council
• Whitman College Campus Climate Challenge

Resources

References

Related SourceWatch articles

• Existing U.S. Coal Plants
• US proposed coal plants (both active and cancelled)
• Coal plants cancelled in 2007
• Coal plants cancelled in 2008
• Profiles of other states (or click on the map)

<us_map redirect="{state} and coal"></us_map>

External links