Sign Up  |  Log In 
 Portland Area's Green-Leaning Community


FIND GREEN BUSINESSES


keywords
(Try quotes for simple phrases. "green girl" vs. green girl)


Portland area zip

cat




New Businesses!
Watch Our Grassroots Grow!





Bookmark and Share this page
<<   January 2011   >>
Su Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa
      1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
     

Click on a date above, or
See full calendar
Add an event

Why did you visit GP today?
 

GREEN FOCUS: Cool Things That Are Green

Boardman Power Plant: From Burning Coal to Biomass
12/23/2010

Should PGE's Boardman power plant be closed down? Boardman emits 4 million tons of greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides as well as 25 thousand tons of other pollutants. These pollutants contribute to acid rain and haze. The amounts of these pollutants violate clean air laws. Meaning, the Boardman power plant must close if it continues to burn coal without emissions controls. Unless they pump money into upgrades, it's expected to close by 2020.

The estimate for the cost of emissions controls is 500 million dollars. However, Oregon's Environmental Quality Commission voted to amend haze regulations that govern Boardman's pollution controls as a coal-fired plant. Instead of putting in 500 million dollars worth of controls, the Boardman power plant only needs to install 60 to 90 million dollars worth of pollution controls.

But there are good reasons not to close Boardman. Such as, the power plant is a very reliable source of cheap energy, it generates 1,000 local jobs, and it doesn't depend on wind or sunshine to create power. However, PGE has bigger plans for Boardman.

The Boardman power plant is considering burning biomass that is put through a process called torrefaction. Biomass is cleaner burning than coal. The harvesting of biomass also creates jobs. Using biomass has other benefits. The thinning of forests and the removal of brush accelerates tree growth, increases diversity and resistance to disease and pestilence.

The future of Boardman looks bright from power being created by a renewable source.

 

By: Kate Iwamoto

 

 





YOU MUST LOGIN OR REGISTER IN ORDER TO REVIEW THIS ARTICLE


Other User's Reviews
There are no current reviews for this article.
GreenPosting Ads

Treecology Inc
Quality tree care geared to enhance the health, safety and beauty of your trees and shrubs.
Treecology.com

Green Living Journal Online
Click this to read Portland-Vancouver area info for helping the environment
ColumbiaRiverPress
.com


Landscape Design
If you are not ready for Spring. It is not waiting for you. We can help you get ready.
winterbloominc.com


GreenPosting Ads

Let's Get Down and Dirty
Whoops clean! Earth Friendly Cleansers is here to help you with all your cleaning needs, either home or office.
EarthFriendlyClean
sers.com/


Giggles the Green Bean
Green Children's Book. Fun Story. Educational. Great Illustration. PDX Author.
GigglesTheGreenBea
n.com


PDX Bicycle Show
Bikes + Culture + Fashion + Riders + Workshops = largest bike show in PDX. April 9-10
pdxBicycleShow.com

GreenPosting Ads

Sustainable Remodeling
Using green building practices for your home or business remodel.
interworksllc.com