Hey Everyone,
In case you didn't see the call time in the subject headline, the call will be today at:
9 p.m. Eastern
Thursday, June 19th
Call-in: 712-432-1620
Participant code: 443706#
Jump on the call tonight, we will have people from all over the state on. This will be be a great opportunity to get involved and to show solidarity for NMU students.
Brandon Knight
Midwest Freedom from Oil Campus Organizer
Global Exchange
Youth and Volunteer Coordinator
ROTHBURY Think Tank
http://www.rothburyfestival.com/festival/think_tank.php
(248)521-4219
bran...@globalexchange.org
http://gx.freedomfromoil.org/
_____
From: Brandon Knight [mailto:bran...@globalexchange.org]
To: mssc_mi@googlegroups.com, lee.spra...@sierraclub.org, sprague....@gmail.com, m...@lists.riseup.net, midwest-challenge-planning@googlegroups.com
Sent: Wed, 18 Jun 2008 12:25:57 -0700
Subject: NMU Coal Plant Conference Call Thursday 9 p.m.!!
Hey All,
We are having a conference call tomorrow to continue our strategy for creating an alternative clean energy solution to the coal plant proposal at Northern Michigan University. Please Join for this statewide effort.
Call info:
Thursday, June 19th
Call-in: 712-432-1620
Participant code: 443706#
Talk to you guys soon.
Brandon Knight
Midwest Freedom from Oil Campus Organizer
Global Exchange
Youth and Volunteer Coordinator
ROTHBURY Think Tank
http://www.rothburyfestival.com/festival/think_tank.php
(248)521-4219
bran...@globalexchange.org
http://gx.freedomfromoil.org/
_____
From: Dan Farough [mailto:d...@progressmichigan.org]
To: nocoa...@mienv.org
Sent: Wed, 18 Jun 2008 11:20:09 -0700
Subject: No Coal MI ~ No Coal - Appeal of Coal Plant In Marquette Mining journal
Friends,
Below is a story on Sierra Club appealing the approval of the Northern Michigan University power plant by DEQ.
Progress Michigan worked with Sierra to get media coverage of the challenge. Nice photo of local group leaders speaking to DEQ officials.
MARQUETTE MINING JOURNAL
http://www.miningjournal.net/page/content.detail/id/511509.html?nav=5006
NMU power plant challenged
By MIRIAM MOELLER, Journal Staff Writer
NMU power plant challenged
Northern Michigan University student Amanda Boyle addresses representatives of the Department of Environmental Quality in November, asking them not to allow NMU to construct a power plant that could burn wood, coal and other fuels. The permit was granted, but is now being challenged by the Sierra Club environmental group. (Journal file photo by Miriam Moeller)
MARQUETTE — Northern Michigan University's plan to develop a combined heat and power cogeneration addition to its existing Ripley Heating Plant has prompted a challenge from an environmental organization.
The university was recently granted a permit by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality to begin construction of the power plant. According to NMU officials, the plant is capable of burning wood chips, biofuel, coal and natural gas to produce energy for NMU's campus.
In response, the Sierra Club filed an appeal with the Michigan Environmental Protection Agency, asking for a change in the permit. As currently written, the permit would allow the university to burn coal up to 20 days per month, according to John Rebers, chairman of the Central Upper Peninsula Sierra Club and an NMU biology professor.
"If that were the case that would mean that there would basically be a new coal burning power plant in Marquette," Rebers said, arguing that carbon dioxide emissions from coal burning power plants are already contributing to global warming.
However, NMU President Les Wong said the university is not intending to burn coal.
"Coal is probably fuel number five and six," Wong said. "Our main fuel is wood chips, sawdust and waste wood products, and we're looking at a relationship with Renewafuel to use their energy pellets."
Iron mining company Cleveland Cliffs Inc.'s Renewafuel venture plans to produce biofuel pellets made of wood and agricultural feedstocks.
Wong emphasized that coal would be a back-up fuel only.
"The whole purpose of a multi-fuel plant is to use renewable fuels," he said. "We don't intend to burn coal at all."
Rebers, on the other hand, said permit language contradicts university officials' statements.
"My feeling is if they were truly committed to using coal only as a back-up it could have been written in the permit for a smaller number of days, but the way the permit is set up, it could be primarily a coal burning plant," he said. "Does coal have to be the alternative fuel source?"
Cindy Paavola, NMU communications director, said the permit's "20-day coal burning clause" is standard with permits of this nature, and it does not mean that NMU will actually burn coal 20 days per month.
She added that NMU has done an extensive study that showed enough wood by-products and wood chips are available in the Upper Peninsula to provide fuel for the power plant.
"We're not surprised that this appeal has come forward, but we're disappointed that the project is delayed," Paavola said. "We're disappointed that the people within this group (Sierra Club) are not listening to what we're saying."
She added that NMU could potentially save up to $1 million a year, create as many as 120 jobs and offer a bio-fuel research lab for students with the construction of the cogeneration plant.
Rebers said the cogeneration plant is not a bad idea, but the inclusion of coal as a back-up fuel is not the best idea.
"What we'd like to see is more of a commitment from the university for both conservation and improved efficiency on campus," he said.
Other members of the Sierra Club have also called upon NMU to invest in alternative energies such as wind and solar power instead of the multi-fuel plant.
Wong said the university has hired consulting firms to conduct studies on these alternative energy systems and has found that the campus is not located ideally for wind or solar power systems and that they would be too costly. Even if wind turbines were placed in Lake Superior, he said, it is not certain they would generate enough energy to power campus.
Wong said he is confident that continued research will develop more biofuel options that could be used by NMU's power plant in the future.
Currently the Michigan EPA is reviewing the Sierra Club's appeal. Wong and Rebers both said they would like to meet to discuss the issue further.
--
Dan Farough
Executive Director
Progress Michigan
517-999-3646
517-643-2949 cell
~ ~ ~ ~
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~ postings to: nocoa...@mienv.org
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