Power plant gets DHEC permit
Coal-fired facility in Florence County still faces opposition from environmental groups
By Doug Pardue
Santee Cooper's proposed coal-fired power plant in Florence County will be allowed to release more than 90 pounds of poisonous mercury a year and other air pollutants under an air quality permit granted Tuesday by the state Department of Health and Environmental Control.
The Post and Courier
Allesandra Castillo (left) and Marissa Stern (right) protest the proposed Santee Cooper coal-burning power plant with about 50 other students involved in Alliance for Planet Earth during a demonstration April 1 at Marion Square in Charleston.
Despite opponents' arguments that the plant, as proposed, uses outdated technology that will pour poisonous and greenhouse gases into the air, DHEC contends that it had no choice because the plant would meet all currently applicable state regulations and laws.
Nancy Cave, an official with the Coastal Conservation League, which opposes the plant along with several other environmental organizations, replied "oh, Lord" when told of DHEC's decision. "I assume we will appeal it."
Cave says the league does not believe that the state's Pollution Control Act ties the environmental agency's hands, forcing it to grant the permit.
DHEC emphasized in a formal press release that it had attached conditions to the permit that would require the plant to meet "the most stringent" future limits on mercury emissions, whether the state's or the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's. Another condition requires Santee Cooper to leave room in the plant's design for additional mercury controls if required by future regulations. In addition, the permit gives DHEC the right to reopen the permit to incorporate any future state or federal carbon dioxide or greenhouse gas requirements.
Mercury connection
Read the continuing series of stories from The Post and Courier.
Mercury pollution, largely from coal-fired plants, became a major issue in the state after The Post and Courier published an investigation in October 2007 called "The Mercury Connection." The stories revealed that some people who eat fish from South Carolina's numerous mercury-contaminated rivers and lakes have elevated levels of mercury in their systems. Mercury is highly toxic, even in tiny amounts, and can cause brain damage in children and heart damage in adults.
In reaction to that series and growing public concern about mercury pollution and the proposed power plant, DHEC agreed earlier this year to begin a study of mercury pollution in South Carolina, focusing, in part, on potential harm to people. Santee Cooper and other state utilities have agreed to participate in that study, DHEC said.
The air quality permit does not clear the way for construction of the plant. The permit can be appealed and the plant is still subject to federal approval of an ongoing environmental impact study and statement, which isn't expected to be completed until early next year.
Earlier this month, the state Department of Natural Resources urged DHEC not to issue any permits for the plant, especially water quality and construction in navigable water permits, until after completion of the environmental impact statement.
DNR expressed "significant concern" about potential water quality and environmental impacts from the plant. In particular, DNR had concerns about proposed solid waste and ash pond facilities that might pollute the Great Pee Dee River and damage the river bluffs that contain rare plants. The power plant is to be built on the Florence side of the river near Pamplico. DNR also complained that Santee Cooper had not adequately addressed many of the concerns it had expressed nearly a year earlier.
Laura G. Varn, Santee Cooper's vice president of corporate communications and media relations, said the company now plans to build the ash ponds farther from the river. She said Santee Cooper is conducting studies related to other expressed concerns.
Santee Cooper, a state-owned utility, says it needs the $1.25 billion plant, scheduled to be completed in 2013, to meet energy demands just as the company would be running short of power. The company hopes to have a new nuclear power plant online by 2016 to provide for longer-term needs.
Environmentalists accuse the company of trading the well-being of residents for cheap power from the coal-fired plant.
"DHEC could have moved South Carolina forward to a healthier future, but instead it punted the ball 150 yards backwards," said Blan Holman, attorney with the Southern Environmental Law Center. "The permit is unlawful, and will be challenged vigorously."
Reach Doug Pardue at dpardue@postandcourier.com or 937-5558.
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Comments
EqualityB4theLawThinkAgain (anonymous) says...
I wonder who got paid off to OK something like this? In this day and age, allowing this kind of fuel plant is unthinkable. How about some wind turbines instead?
December 17, 2008 at 6:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
moonpie (anonymous) says...
Well don't live down wind from this thing!
December 17, 2008 at 6:16 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
NativeSon (anonymous) says...
DHEC appears to be ANTI health. So does this company - There are FILTERS for this, you idiots!
December 17, 2008 at 6:58 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
beefsaver (anonymous) says...
Wow, three comments and not one string of run-on rants about plasmification of trash?
So when are people that care about this matter really going to reduce their consumption of energy? The demand is obviously there or the supplier wouldn't be trying to create more infrastructure. There is lots of hand-wringing concern but still people crank the AC to the max as soon as the temperature hits 70F and crank the heat as soon as it dips to 60F.
I'm strongly in favor of lower-impact energy solutions, and know that we can provide a safer alternative. I also take steps to reduce my consumption, because nothing will help our environment more than being less of a resource-hog!
December 17, 2008 at 7:34 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SimplyMad (anonymous) says...
Dont these nut job enviro-whackos have jobs?
Build Some Nuke plants too in addition to the coal-fired power plant. Oh and an oil refinery - lots of jobs will be created and we will help get the great state of SC become more independent.
POWER TO THE PEOPLE! and I do mean Electric power!
December 17, 2008 at 7:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
singleroni (anonymous) says...
if you don't like shut off your lights and tv. go outside and enjoy the sun light from your cave. we need the electricity. this is for the future.
December 17, 2008 at 7:53 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
laurasmorris (anonymous) says...
With the loss of so many manufacturing jobs and the economy in a nosedive, I wonder how current the estimates for power needs are. And, if DHEC believes there may be changes in law in the near future (leaving the permit open to revision), why the need to issue it now? Generally the permit applicant is requesting a decision as quickly as possible because there is so much lag time between permitting and construction, but this permit is so uncertain that Santee Cooper would be fools to go ahead. I would really question why DHEC felt a permit was needed NOW.
December 17, 2008 at 8:06 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
theronce (anonymous) says...
I, too, would prefer a nuclear power plant, but this will do as long as they follow the laws. As long as people will not do the right thing and closely conserve their energy usage, then the choices are to build more stuff or suffer a fatal failure of the current sources of power. The last thing that I want is the catastrophic failure.
December 17, 2008 at 8:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
wmac (anonymous) says...
The plant is state of the art - not outdated technology. It is over 95% scrubbed of sulfur dioxide, and this scrubbing removes an extremely high percentage of mercury as well. Because the plant is state of the art, it is more efficient than older, un-scrubbed coal plants. It therefore will emit less carbon dioxide per unit of electricity than the older plants that run throughout the southeast.
As newer coal plants come on line, older less efficient (and more expensive to operate) plants run less. With new nuclear plants being pursued (permits are filed), older and less efficient coal plants will run even less as these nukes come on line.
It is the steady march of achievable technology, not knee-jerk actions (such as shutting down our nuclear power plant construction several decades ago), that brings about better environmental results, as well as lower costs.
Who else is building? Where are jobs going to come from?
December 17, 2008 at 8:39 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
notax (anonymous) says...
Guess the great SCCCL will have to appeal - this is the same group that ignores the potential harm that will come from the huge proposed development around the Angel Oak! I wouldn't trust SCCCL on anything! Talk about following the money trail, it would be interesting to see who contributes to SCCCL.
December 17, 2008 at 8:57 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
counterpoint (anonymous) says...
Wonder if I can get a permit for taking a s*** in someone's backyard?
December 17, 2008 at 9:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
zekemire (anonymous) says...
It is time to tell these groups to take a very long walk off a very short pier! Enough of these anarchists! The courts should rule them subversive and anti American! We should build many new coal fired power plants, gas fired power plants, many new large hydro projects, hundreds of new nuclear power plants, many new ports expansions in Charleston and others! We need to start thinking about our economic survival, in the same time moving to limit environmental issues, so that both things are considered in large projects! But, the likes of such groups as the sierra club, world wildlife fund, southern poverty law center need to be limited as the radical subversive anti American, anti private property idiots that they are! ENOUGH IS ENOUGH of these populist, socialist groups! This great country is built on and is about the individual, not the group! Communists, socialists, marxist, are about the group, AND ARE FAILED SYSTEMS! We have been here 232 years! The longest socialist/communist regime so far has been the USSR which failed after 73 years, China so far at 63, Cuba so far at 49. Cuba is destitute, China has moved so close to pure capitalism , a move to insure economic survival, that other than a abusive brutal government it might as well be capitalist! Socialism and populism never works, NEVER!
December 17, 2008 at 9:14 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
zoomru (anonymous) says...
DHEC......you cowards !!!!
Beefsaver...yes if they would run the emmissions back through a PLASMA converter ...I would be all for a COAL fired PLANT!! Not to mention it would solve the need for MORE landfills in the PEE DEE region to boot!! "Two Birds with one stone ...in effect" !
watch this ....beefsaver ...
http://laskyfilms.com/startech/movies...
ZEKEMIRE...."..This great country is built on and is about the individual, not the group!.."
Well...when groups of elected officials and appointed officials and LOBBY GROUPS and BIG RAIL, and backslappin' WONKS....STEAMROLL the individual!! ..then it is time for the individuals to STAND UP as ONE and shove it back down the HOLE in which it CAME...!!(Fist POUNDS!)
December 17, 2008 at 10:05 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
coastal_explorer (anonymous) says...
the socialists! the marxists! the communists! fighting the STATE OWNED utility Santee Cooper and their attempts to further pollute public waterways...the nerve...
December 17, 2008 at 10:20 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
geekboy (anonymous) says...
Give it up wmac.... facts mean nothing here at the Pravda & Comrade.
December 17, 2008 at 10:41 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
ln1959 (anonymous) says...
Wait, is this coal burning, air poluting building being build on the Santee Cooper River that I cross at mile marker 100 on 95?
This could be very bad for those big old fish they say you can catch in that river.
Stop the construction!!!!!! Pull the permit, at lease until I catch my fish.
December 17, 2008 at 12:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SpiderJohn (anonymous) says...
Posted by counterpoint on December 17, 2008 at 9:04 a.m. (Suggest removal)
Wonder if I can get a permit for taking a s*** in someone's backyard?
Sure....Santee Cooper did!
December 17, 2008 at 1:19 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
scfirefly (anonymous) says...
Responsible reporting would go like this:
The people of South Carolina are celebrating the approval of a new Santee Cooper power plant. This new facility will use the cleanest, most efficient technology available. Santee Cooper is working hard to keep power affordable and reliable for our state.
Ignorant and anti-business environmental extremists vowed to fight this project. They promise to delay construction for as long as possible even though they have no scientific or legal basis for their position.
There. Hope that helps.
December 17, 2008 at 4:29 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
BulldogTLC (anonymous) says...
Couldn't have said it better myself scfirefly!
December 17, 2008 at 5:20 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yird (anonymous) says...
zoomru;Your incoherent ramblings indicate you might be a couple of pints low on plasma.
The sooner we build more nuclear plants the better off we'll be. None of us are really prepared to go back to living like the pioneers of past centuries and as such are totally dependent on commercially produced energy for our survival.
Name one progressive government program that is not a failure.
December 17, 2008 at 6:17 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rollo (anonymous) says...
Those who object to the construction of this new plant could prevent its' construction tomorrow. Simply call your electric service supplier and tell them that in protest to the construction of new power plants, you will no longer purchase their product. Tell them to prepare a final bill for your account and you will pay up when they disconnect their service from your property.
The more people who disconnect from the grid, the less need for more generator capacity. So, it's time to put up or shut up!!!
You'll also have to have your phone service disconnected, and your cell phone, as they consume electricity as well.
I think the P&C should lead this effort by having its' services disconnected immediately.
December 17, 2008 at 7:08 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Badgersouth (anonymous) says...
Thanks to uncontrolled development, South Carolina is well on its way to becoming the "New Jersey of the South." This ill-advised DHEC decision will only hasten the process.
December 17, 2008 at 7:44 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yird (anonymous) says...
rollo; great idea!
December 17, 2008 at 7:59 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rollo (anonymous) says...
Yird; Thanks, but it is not my idea. That is a founding principal of the free market. Our founders fought a war that was in major part over being forced to buy products for which they disagreed with on policy.(the Boston Tea Party for example).
If an American has a dispute with any service provider, that American has a right, and perhaps even a duty to eschew that service!
I'm simply pointing out that anyone and everyone in this wonderfully free society has market provided options!
Even the P&C has the option of putting its' money where its' mouth is!!
December 17, 2008 at 8:40 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Badgersouth (anonymous) says...
Memo to rollo: Santee Cooper has a monopoly on the provision of electricity in its service area. In addition, it is a self-regulating institution that can set rates at whatever level it chooses. Similarities between King George and the CEO of Santee Cooper are purely intentional.
December 17, 2008 at 9:12 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
pendolf (anonymous) says...
Posted by Badgersouth on December 17, 2008 at 9:12 p.m.
Memo to rollo: Santee Cooper has a monopoly on the provision of electricity in its service area. In addition, it is a self-regulating institution that can set rates at whatever level it chooses. Similarities between King George and the CEO of Santee Cooper are purely intentional.
_____________________________________________________
Well, Badger, if King George were really in place, your electric bill would be sky high. Instead, Santee Cooper's rates are the lowest in SC. Is is because they are trying to do the right thing by their customers perhaps?
If you keep listening to your enviro buddies, your electricity bill will at least triple when their "green" alternative technologies are in place.
December 17, 2008 at 9:30 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rollo (anonymous) says...
"Memo to rollo: Santee Cooper has a monopoly on the provision of electricity in its service area. In addition, it is a self-regulating institution that can set rates at whatever level it chooses. Similarities between King George and the CEO of Santee Cooper are purely intentional."
I understand that a given power provider has a "monopoly" on "provision"(sales}. What's your point?
You can't buy a generator? You can't build your own solar panels? You can't build your own windmill?
If you don't want the grid to be capable of supplying power to others, you must be ready to abandon the grid yourself.
Every electricity distributor in SC has to submit a proposal to the PSC before it can change the rates it charges. Your accusations are juvenile and irresponsible.
Grow up, then try again.
December 17, 2008 at 9:46 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Badgersouth (anonymous) says...
Memo to rollo: Santee Cooper is NOT subject to PSC regulation. Do your homework and get the facts before you start foaming at the mouth!
December 18, 2008 at 9:45 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
SpiderJohn (anonymous) says...
Crapping where you eat is stupid!
December 18, 2008 at 1:57 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rollo (anonymous) says...
Badgersouth,
Can you source your info, or have I provoked you to foam at the mouth?
Regardless, my point is that if enough people pull off the grid, there will be no need for new power plants.
Imagine; All the people who object to this new plant live without an electricity bill for a few years, you could save up the money you currently spend on bills, and pool it, and eventually build your own wind farm!!! Set up your own power grid! That'd teach'em all a lesson! If you make that work, even I'll have to shut up!
All I'm saying is "put your money where your mouth is". It is the height of hypocrisy to to keep electrical service to your own property and deny it to others. And to justify these demands with suspicious science is the equivalent of jailing Galileo for heresy.
December 18, 2008 at 5:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
yird (anonymous) says...
I get my power directly from Santee Cooper. The best, most reasonable service I've had anywhere.
My good sense home with all high efficiency appliances and a 14.5 seer AC/heat pump get me a $12p/mo off the top credit, and light bills the envy of most.
Heating and cooling 1750sq ft downstairs of 2800 total has never even hit $90.00.
I do use a lot of those ugly curly cue light bulbs though.
December 18, 2008 at 7:09 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rollo (anonymous) says...
Yird, you're a good man, You're making room for others to join the grid, and working on essentials for your own family.
I'll have to spank you for the "pigtail" bulbs,LOL!
December 18, 2008 at 9:15 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Badgersouth (anonymous) says...
Memo to rollo: You will find Santee Cooper's power to set its own rates in Section 58-31-30, Powers of Authority, of the state statutes. If you are too lazy to look this up, you can just call Santee Cooper's public relations office and they will confirm.
December 18, 2008 at 9:37 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
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