The state Public Service Commission has given American Electric Power
the go-ahead to build a $2.3-billion plant in Mason County that will be
the first of its kind in the world.
It's called an Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle Plant. Dana
Waldo, the president of Appalachian Power, a subsidiary of AEP, says
both clean energy processes they'll be doing aren't cutting edge but
putting them together is.
MetroNews - Friday, March 7, 2008
The state Public Service Commission has given American Electric Power the go-ahead to build a $2.3-billion plant in Mason County that will be the first of its kind in the world.
It's called an Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle Plant. Dana Waldo, the president of Appalachian Power, a subsidiary of AEP, says both clean energy processes they'll be doing aren't cutting edge but putting them together is.
"It's the integration of these two technologies at the scale in which we are proposing at the plant up in New Haven that is new,” Waldo said Friday on MetroNews Talkline.
The first process will burn coal without releasing any carbon into the air. "It takes coal and processes it into a synthetic gas and then that gas is used to power a gas turbine,” Waldo said. “Electricity comes out of that turbine. The heat from the gas turbine is extracted and creates steam that runs a steam turbine which also creates electricity."
The second part of the process involves getting rid of the harmful carbon that's polluted West Virginia's air for decades. "This technology will allow us to capture the CO2. We then put it under pressure, which liquefies it. Our intent is to inject it into the ground for permanent storage,” according to Waldo.
However, Waldo says that carbon may be used in an environmentally friendly way that will make money for the company. "Out in the west, it's used to enhance oil recovery from old, played-out gas and oil wells,” he said.
As for the cost of the plan, the PSC gave AEP the go-ahead to bill customers a surcharge to help pay for the construction of the plant which will take about 4 years. What will it mean for your wallet? "At the end of the day when the plant is done, the average residential bill, the total impact will be about $7.71 a month." Waldo said.
Coal was virtually left out of President Bush's new energy plan, but Waldo says those who think coal can't be used in green way will see things differently once the plant is in operation.
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