States Battle Feds in Power War

One very good possible answer is a better siting of the plants and lines. Whether we like it or not, the best US energy supply is our coal reserves - with the best quality and quantity being found in the Powder River basin of Wyoming, Montana, and South Dakota. It seems to me that rather than mining and shipping this coal all over the country, as we do now, to old, inefficient power plants it would make more sense to build super large capacity, but very efficienct and eco-friendly, coal-fired plants right there at the mine source (and yes - it IS possible to eco-friendly coal power plants). As far as tranmission is concerned, the best way to distribute the huge amounts of power which would be generated at these plants is through HVDC (High Voltage Direct Current). There is less line loss than AC transmission lines, so again it is more efficient.

The benefits are the much easier and less expensive power plant siting costs in this area as well as the lower cost and more eco-friendly power porduction.

yes i agree with you but How and who will adress emission related issues with coal based thermal power plants and do you mean gas and fossiel based oil kings will close their eyes if cole based take over the Power plants?

crm

Coal is already the fuel of choice for well over 50% of our electric power generation, so put away your conspiracy theories about gas and oil kings. As far as emissions control, large coal plants such as these are actually very easy to build in such a way as to greatly lessen their carbon footprint: CO2 scrubbing, CO2 sequestering, coal gasification, ICGC technologyu, etc.

Tell that to TXU or whatever they are calling themselves now days. They are fighting tooth and nail to put in several NEW coal burners with OLD technology in Central Texas saying they are the newest technology. They are the dirtiest provider out there and they want to pollute our clean air in central Texas just for the almighty buck. Don't these people have any concise? Why do we all give in to the big corporations everytime they throw money at it?

Exactly the point, Jimmer. We need to site the plants near where the coal is mined - using the latest and greatest coal plant technology (which is very eco-friendly). Putting new plants in, with old technology, hundreds of miles from the mines is stupid.

yes coal based power plants are going to stay i know very well unless feds and states understand that& unless SELF appointed green gas &global worming advocate groops keep quiet and think techenicaly.as you rightly said set up the power plants right at the coalmines with adaquate measures to controal the emissions insted of sinking Bellions of $ for reinventing the wheel to controal emmissions form fossiel fuel based power plants which is impossiable. and wont be cost effective even fuels cells are not an answer as its going to cost a fartune.

crm

What would you use to convert DC to AC.

DC to AC inversion is existing technology already in use in several main transmission hubs.

How about a really clean Power Plant NUCLEAR, and than you don't have to extract any of the coal which creatres a lot of polution itself...

yes you are 100% correct But that issue needs to be answered by oil companeys who controls governments in many countries whose very bread is at stakes if alternate fuels take over the energy market.then what will be the fate of OPEC and oil producing counteries.and their imports from so called advanced and developed nations what will be the value of Euro and Dollar in the international market.

Why should people in CA get the benefit of less emissions while the poor saps in the rural coal areas have to put up with all the emmsisions. If people want power in CA let them build their own electrical sources in CA.

Hi Guys,

Not that I know but could the overhead transmission cables which is the main point of the story be buried therefore reducing the impact on the look of the environment.

I don't remember off the top of my head if this type of cable is possible as an underground version. I want to say yes - however what I DO remember is that underground cables are also considered to have very significant environmental impact. It is just different. Instead of potentially getting birds zapped with the wires, there is potential for underground or even on-ground animals to interfere with the cables.

Remember also, the cable would have to get burried somehow - which would involve a massive excavation project.

Also, the cable is more likely to fail, and is more difficult to fix when it does.

Overhead versus underground is often a consideration for shorter and lower voltage lines in urban areas, but putting long lengths of high voltage lines u/g is very expensive.

This link will direct you to a good and mercifully brief discussion on the subject, but the bottom line is: "The cost to place new transmission lines underground is about 8 to 10 times the cost to build overhead lines."

http://www.scana.com/NR/rdonlyres/465E6534-2FFB-4069-BF84-81465AEEF887/0/Undergroundvs.pdf

The issue is whether or not a state governing body can regulate what happens within its boundaries.

California has made the construction of new power generation facilities nearly impossible to build, through state regulations and commissions.

Arizona's commissioning body has opted reject the construction of a new interstate transmission line.

If the ruling rejecting interstate transmission lines is overturned, the courts would start a precedence allowing states bordering California to sue for the removal of regulations regarding the building of new power generating facilities. It would be in California's best interest for the Supreme Court to uphold Arizona's decision.

I am still trying to understand why hydrogen power plant can come on line. $10,000 each for a small hydrogen generator process about 1 litier of hydrogen an hour. $10,000 more for a storge tank. Once filled buy a Power plant that will run off hydrogen and a Generator.

Approx $90,000 investment should produce 5 magwatts. I am assuming you own the 0peoperty where the plant is installed. Take the first checks from sales to buy back ed hydrogenators and brass tools you didn't have when building the orginal.

The only security problem is that the tank could be seen as a portiental hydrogen bobmb.