Articals of interest to the coal industry.

Friday, December 01, 2006

Rage against the machine young people.

Whatever you do dont look at the facts cause it will make you feel like an idiot. Dont look at the upcoming shortage in electricity or for ways to meet this demand that provides the USA people with the high quality of life we all enjoy. They want to destory this lets just face it they hate the modern American who lives 30 years longer than his parents. Yeh' that really shows we are all going to die alright now dont it!

Story quote ; "The Bush administration is using taxpayer dollars to accelerate global warming," said Chatham Olive, a member of the N.C. Sierra Club Executive Committee. "The proposed Cliffside plant is a global warming machine."


FEDERAL INCENTIVES

Duke gets share of `clean coal' tax creditsCompany awarded $125 million in breaks for Cliffside projectCHRISTOPHER D. KIRKPATRICKmailto:KIRKPATRICKckirkpatrick@charlotteobserver.com

The federal government awarded $1 billion in "clean coal" tax credits Thursday, including $125 million for proposed Duke Energy power units that some opponents say shouldn't be built because of rising costs and air pollution.
The Charlotte-based company is seeking state approval for the 800-megawatt units at its Cliffside facility, 55 miles west of Charlotte. The company says the units would burn cleaner than other coal-fired units in its fleet.
Duke said the tax credits show the project is environmentally sound. It was one of only two traditional coal projects chosen by the U.S. Department of Energy.
"It validates the project as efficient, sound and clean," said Duke spokesman Tom Williams.
Authorized by the Energy Policy Act of 2005, the credits allow power companies to lessen their federal tax burdens, once the qualifying plants are built. Those tax savings are passed on to consumers, who ultimately cover the cost of power projects through rate increases.
As part of the program, the utility also received $133.5 million in tax credits for a proposed Indiana coal plant expected to cost up to $2.1 billion. That plant would burn gas from heated coal and might also include clean air technology that would capture carbon gas created at the plant and store it underground.
The company said Wednesday it still wanted permission from the N.C. Utilities Commission to build the Cliffside units, even though projected costs have increased from $2 billion to $3 billion. Hearings are scheduled in Raleigh for Jan. 17.
Jim Rogers, Duke's chief executive, said in written testimony that up to 50 percent of the cost might be shared with an investor. Duke officials won't identify the potential partners.
Duke wants to build several power plants over the next 15 years to meet increasing energy demand in the Carolinas, including a controversial nuclear project in Cherokee County, S.C.
For the proposed nuclear plant, the utility has asked the N.C. regulators to allow it to pass on up to $125 million in planning costs through future rate increases, even if a plant is never built.
To cover costs for its long-range plans -- which include billions in coal, natural gas and nuclear projects -- the company won't say by how much rates would increase.
Jim Warren, executive director of N.C. Waste Awareness and Reduction Network, said Duke should champion conservation over new construction.
"For a fraction of the $3 billion, we could be ramping up the programs," he said.
Duke said Wednesday it would spend about $50 million annually on programs to save energy and decrease power demand.
The Sierra Club criticized the grant.
"The Bush administration is using taxpayer dollars to accelerate global warming," said Chatham Olive, a member of the N.C. Sierra Club Executive Committee. "The proposed Cliffside plant is a global warming machine."


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