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Gubernatorial hopefuls spoke out last week in support of an offshore wind farm, despite Governor Ruth Ann Minner’s vague statement that seemed to support coal gasification.
Possible 2008 candidates for governor, State Treasurer Jack Markell and Lt. Governor John Carney, said they would support wind power and other conservation efforts in the state over fossil fuel burning plants, which contribute to global warming. State Insurance Commissioner and Lt. Governor hopeful Matt Denn also spoke out in favor of the wind power project, proposed by Bluewater Wind. The project was proposed in response to a request for proposal (RFP) process initiated by legislation following a 59 percent increase in electric rates for Delmarva Power customers.
“As Insurance Commissioner, I have made health care in Delaware my highest priority.
“Making health coverage more affordable and available is my main goal, but obviously the most cost effective way to treat a health problem is for it not to occur in the first place,” said Denn. “The Public Service Commission recently recommended that Delmarva Power, as part of an overall effort to ensure reliable and reasonably priced energy in the future, enter into negotiations with Bluewater Wind for the creation of an offshore wind project, as well as negotiations with two other providers to provide back-up power for the wind generation project. I commend the Public Service Commission for adopting this stance, as I think it strikes an appropriate balance between the need to ensure reliable energy for Delaware and the need to move decisively toward the use of energy sources that will produce less pollution and consequently help us in improving the overall health of our state.”
Denn said the evidence provided to the Public Service Commission (PSC) shows that simply implementing wind power in Delaware would result in fewer premature deaths, fewer hospital visits and fewer asthma attacks. He said he understands many assumptions and estimates go into that kind of health analysis, but he said common sense tells him that having a wind farm as a primary power producer would be better for the health of Delawareans because it does not produce harmful emissions.
“I believe that the state must assert itself if Delmarva (Power) does not negotiate with these energy producers in good faith. Delmarva’s initial reaction to the PSC staff’s report—that it would refuse to even engage in non-binding negotiations—was alarming,” said Denn. “The fact that Delmarva was cudgeled by public opinion into agreeing to negotiations provides little more comfort.
Delmarva’s initial reaction suggests that these negotiations will be little more than an ill-fated kabuki dance, leaving Delawareans at the end in the same precarious state that we are in today.”
It is rumored that Denn will pursue a run for Lt. Governor, with Markell as the candidate for governor. The announcements are not official yet. Markell has spoken out in support of wind since almost the beginning of the process to find a new power supplier. Markell said he is not sure it would be necessary to build a back-up power plant to support the wind farm, because the state may be able to get enough power off the electricity grid to cover times when the wind is not blowing.
Chad Tolman, energy chair for the Delaware Chapter of the Sierra Club, applauded Denn’s stance, stating that the decision facing the state will not only affect the energy future, it will also affect the future health of all Delawareans.
“The vast majority of Delawareans have made it quite clear that we want a clean energy future. My view is that polluting fossil fuel plants should be phased out as rapidly as possible - replaced by a combination of improved energy efficiency and renewable energy sources,” said Tolman. “The renewable source that can make the biggest difference in Delaware in the shortest time is offshore wind. It should be developed to the maximum extent possible. Doing so can not only provide stable energy pricing and improved public health, but offers the opportunity for a major new industry in Delaware - building wind turbines for the whole East Coast.”
Lt. Gov. John Carney, who would be Markell’s rival for governor, said his office has received many calls and emails from citizens supporting wind power. He said he believes wind power is an important part of the future energy mix for the state.
“While I have concerns about costs and the possible limitations of wind at certain times, I am hopeful that these concerns can be addressed in negotiations between Delmarva and Bluewater Wind,” said Carney. “I also think having Delmarva negotiate with Conectiv Energy and NRG over a possible back-up facility in Sussex County is worth pursuing, as this may help answer the question of what happens when the wind is not blowing.” Carney’s statement came less than a week after Gov. Minner released a statement that seemed to favor coal gasification.
Alan Muller of Green Delaware, a watchdog group, said Delaware should be looking to the future and global warming concerns. A wind farm would not contribute to global warming, which leads to rising ocean levels, said Muller. “Delaware will notice rising sea levels,” said Muller. “I know of nowhere else a coal proposal is competing directly with a wind project.”
The PSC has already made its recommendation to use wind power, with either a natural gas or coal gasification backup, but the remaining three agencies have not. The Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control, the Office of Management and Budget and the state Controller General’s Office are expected to make their recommendations at the Tuesday, May 22 meeting of the PSC.
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Carper pushes for tougher mercury emission regulations
U.S. Sen. Tom Carper told the Senate Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety that new technology would allow further reductions in mercury emissions.
Experts presented their findings to the subcommittee, calling for aggressive reductions in mercury, a neurotoxin responsible for serious health problems in children and pregnant women.
“Tighter mercury controls are achievable, affordable and reliable,” said Carper. “The most vulnerable of our society, women and children, are going to pay the price if we don’t do more to clean up our mercury emissions.”
The Bush Administration released a mercury rule in 2005 that allowed for a cap-and-trade system that would reduce mercury pollution by 70 percent by 2018. Environmentalists opposed this system because it would allow large companies to purchase the right to release mercury. Carper said the cap-and-trade system does not go far enough.
While Carper is focusing on pollution nationwide, mercury is among the toxins polluting the air and water in Delaware. In 2004, NRG Energy, owners of the Indian River Power Plant outside Millsboro, reported releasing 241 pounds of mercury into the air and land. That number went down in 2005, when Indian River released 205 pounds.
With new regulations through the state and new technology plant owners plan to install at the Indian River power plant, that number should drop dramatically in the coming years, said NRG officials.
“We heard today at the hearing that many states – such as Illinois and New Jersey – are going above and beyond what the administration has proposed to do on mercury,” said Carper. “But these states can’t do it on their own. We need federal legislation to mandate much stricter mercury reductions if we are to adequately protect the public health.”
Contact Rachel Swick at: rswick@capegazette.com
Contact Rachel Swick at rswick@capegazette.com.
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