by Jim Simonetti
Special to the Coastal Journal

The contract zoning ordinance currently being written in Wiscasset is at a very critical stage. Depending on how it is written, it could either provide better protection against the dangers of a coal gasification plant, or it could actually make it easier for Twin Rivers Energy Corporation to get approval for a coal gas and diesel plant in Wiscasset.

COAL GASIFICATION is a new, unproven technology with a minimal operating record. "Clean Coal" gasification is not clean. While proponents correctly praise gasification for removing up to 90 percent of coal's mercury emissions, any mercury may be too much. There is no safe level of mercury.

Compared to a coal plant, the U.S. Department of Energy correctly says a "clean coal" gasification plant emits only 65 percent as many airborne particulates. Yet like mercury, no dose of particulates is safe. The Department of Energy says "clean coal" gasification plants release more sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides than coal plants.

DOE says sulfuric acid releases from the American Electric Power "clean coal" plant in Cheshire, Ohio, sickened hundreds of citizens in 2001. AEP spent $850 million trying to solve the problem and failed. In 2002 it bought the entire town and paid to move everyone out. In return, all residents had to agree not to sue AEP for their health problems.

When the U.S. General Accounting Office, the government's oversight agency, recently assessed U.S. "clean coal" facilities, it found that 62 percent had serious financial problems or delays up to seven years, and 15 percent went bankrupt. One example is the plant in West Terre Haute, Ind. -- idled by high costs and poor reliability.

Should Wiscasset allow a partly-dirty “clean coal”, experimental technology with a poor history, especially since Twin Rivers Energy Corporation has no experience in gasification? Even proponents admit that gasification plants are 25 percent more expensive than coal, and likely to become more expensive. The government insists that no commercial carbon capture technology will be available for at least 20-30 years. 2004 DOE data also show that energy from gasification, using experimental carbon-capture technology, costs twice as much as wind energy. DOE says natural gas, cogeneration and wind are all cheaper and safer than gasification. Even promising technologies must be used in the right place at the right time.

Because our Federal Government is replacing the Clean Air Act with the Clear Skies act, a new partly- dirty “clean” coal gas plant in Wiscasset would be allowed to use Cap and Trade laws to get around pollution regulations. Twin Rivers Energy Corporation would be allowed to purchase pollution credits that would allow it to exceed allowable levels of toxic pollutants (including Mercury).

It would legally produce solid, liquid and gas pollutants that we do not produce now in Wiscasset. It would legally release hundreds of pounds each of dozens of toxic chemicals that we do not release now in Wiscasset. It would legally release carcinogens such as benzene, reproductive and neurological toxins like toluene, and metals like arsenic, cadmium and lead, that we do not release now in Wiscasset. It would legally bring new health costs. It would legally endanger our health and our ecosystem. One in eight American women of childbearing age already has blood-mercury levels high enough, according to 2004 U.S. Environmental Protection Agency data, to cause neurological-developmental disorders in her unborn children. It would legally cause cancer, heart attacks, asthma and other ailments, that are not caused by a power plant in Wiscasset now.

New mercury regulations for New England are based on cap and trade, and could reduce pollution for the overall region, but not for every locality. It may not protect Wiscasset from becoming a toxic hot spot. A new carbon dioxide regulation will be debated by the Maine Legislation next year, but it may be ineffective against stronger, federal, cap and trade laws.   

The most effective protection we have right now against approval of a dirty “clean coal” gasification plant is the height restriction. When contract zoning comes to the voters for approval, extreme vigilance will be needed. Please pay close attention, and stay informed.