energy tax and West Virginia (credit, to buy, pollution)

[convex20899]

With Halloween behind us, there are still several legislative scares ahead. One is a massive energy tax in a "climate change" costume.


How do you think this will effect our state?

[ABCDom]

Catastrophic! It's clear that if this legislation passes, several WV citizens will be adversely effected. It will be interesting to see which WV legislators vote in favor of the bill because, as of now, it seems that only one (Capito) puts the best interests of our State at the forefront.

[David Kennedy]

In Florida. I was surprised to see the very professional TV information adds speaking about coal power and what it will mean to them if it is skuttled.

In a private conversation at an evening dinner party, a person in the 'Know said that Federal Cap and Trade is over and dead...
He also said that many coal fired power plants do adversely pollute...'buy pollution credits now..and let the stack gasses cover the air..
I asked..."Any in West Virginia?
He opened my eyes very wide when he mentioned Harrison Power Station.
I said, 'That one is near us!"
He said, "That's one of the worst offenders...cheaper to buy the credits than operate the scrubbers."

[Threerun]

Well that's lovely, lol.

[pknopp]

cheaper to buy the credits than operate the scrubbers

Because that's what it's all about. Making money, not curbing emissions.

[GraniteStater]

The last I heard I thought Cap and Trade was still up in the air.
No, I don't agree with the pollution credits. The coal plants that are grandfathered into the system continue to pollute far more than the newer and more efficient plants. We need a gradual phase out of the oldest and dirtiest plants in favor of newer technologies- or modernize the plants to include scrubbers.

[David Kennedy]

I hear you anguish, but lets mention accountability with agencies (EPA).
My neighbor is one of the shift managers of that Harrison Plant.
She told me several years ago that they were not required to operate the 'Scrubbers 24 hours a day...(operate a technology that would reduce emmissions to zero.)

We, users of that power, have paid millions for a upgrade...and entirely for a newer scrubber system so coal miners could have their jobs (that was the company media hype at the time).

The problem is: We have the solution on hand and are not using it.

This (protest) argument is one reason I'm taking the personal energy needs of my customer base towards solar, geo-thermal and wind generation....the ideal solution would be to capture power and get a reverse credit payment from the power company as we add power to the grid.