Saturday, June 21, 2008

Energy policy: Hydroelectric Hydroelectric generation is making a comeback as a clean source of power. Here's a report on the re-licensing work for the Ouray Hydroelectric Plant, from The Hub. From the article: Officials with the Federal Energy Regulating Commission (FERC) were in Ouray this week to collect public comment regarding a license renewal application for the Ouray Hydroelectric Plant. Council and city staff spoke in unanimous support of the hydroelectric plant, which dates back to the 1880s, at a scoping meeting Monday night. "We are very fortunate to have in Ouray one of four oldest operating power plants in the world," said Mayor Bob Risch. "I can't imagine anybody not being in support of it. There are no environmental issues. Obviously fish can't live in the acidic headwaters of the Uncompahgre River; let's make hydroelectricity." Eric Jacobsen, who owns the power plant, was pleased with outcome of the week's proceedings, which also included a site visit by FERC officials and a power-point presentation by Ouray Ice Park board president Erin Eddy, regarding the history of the Ice Park its successful collaboration with Jacobsen, who allows the park to utilize property associated with the hydro plant for ice climbing. "Things went very well," Jacobsen said. "All of the comments were positive. I didn't know people liked it so much. Comments spoke to the plant's importance to history, green power, and as a recreation base."[...] If FERC relicensing proceedings stay on track, an environmental assessment will be completed by mid-2009, after which the commission licensing decision will be made; the hydroelectric plant's current license expires on April 12, 2010. Public comments submitted at this week's hearings will be posted on FERC's website within a week. Risch said this week he envisions a day in the near future when Ouray can be sustained by electricity generated by the hydro-plant. "We're pretty close now," he said. "With a small amount of conservation, we can live on our own power, at least during the summer when the water level is higher." A large front-range utility contracts with Jacobsen for the first 500 kW of power produced by the plant. The remainder of the approximate 820 kW generated are purchased by San Miguel Power Association, which in turn powers Ouray. "2008 pres" 7:24:30 AM     Energy policy: Geothermal From The Denver Post: "Geothermal energy prospectors' plans to develop vast swaths of federal land in the West are due for a boost, part of Congress' effort to help feed the region's rapacious appetite for energy. The Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service plan 13 meetings next month in 11 Western states and Alaska to gather public comment on a newly released environmental impact statement that, when completed, will open millions of acres to companies aiming to tap naturally superheated subterranean steam and water to power turbines or warm buildings...The public hearings are set for July 8 in Anchorage; July 9 in Fairbanks; July 14 in Reno, Nev.; July 15 in Salt Lake City; July 16 in Tucson, Ariz.; July 17 in Cheyenne, Wyo.; July 21 in Boise; July 22 in Albuquerque, N.M.; July 23 in Helena, Mont.; July 24 in Denver; July 28 in Seattle; July 29 in Portland, Ore.; and July 30 in Sacramento, Calif." More Coyote Gulch coverage here. 6:51:04 AM     Energy policy: Oil Shale Everyone is talking about oil shale this week. On Wednesday morning President Bush called on elected officials to remove the moratorium on production even thought there is no commercial method of production yet. Here's a report on U.S. Senator Ken Salazar's reaction to the president's speech, from The Valley Courier: "U.S. Senator Ken Salazar criticized President George Bush's speech about tapping into Western oil shale as a means of reducing high gas prices...Salazar said Republicans have suggested Democrats are stopping oil shale production. '[Experts] have all testified the barriers to oil shale development are economic, technological and environmental, not legal or regulatory' he said. Salazar said oil shale could not be developed until 2015 at the earliest." More Coyote Gulch coverage here. "2008 pres" 5:46:20 AM

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