Consent 2.
Regular Board of Supervisors Meeting
Board of Supervisors
- Meeting Date:
- 08/14/2012
- Title:
- Resolution in support of AEPCO, opposing EPA requirements to install ‘selective catalytic reduction’ (SCR) technology
- Submitted By:
- Katie Howard, Board of Supervisors
- Department:
- Board of Supervisors
Presentation:
No A/V Presentation
Recommendation:
Document Signatures:
# of ORIGINALS
Submitted for Signature:
Submitted for Signature:
NAME
of PRESENTER:
of PRESENTER:
n/a
TITLE
of PRESENTER:
of PRESENTER:
n/a
Mandated Function?:
Source of Mandate
or Basis for Support?:
or Basis for Support?:
Information
Agenda Item Text:
Adopt Resolutiion 12-35 in support of Arizona Electric Power Cooperatiive, opposing new Environmental Protection Agency requirements to install ‘selective catalytic reduction’ (SCR) technology.
Background:
Whereas, the Apache Generating Station at Cochise, south of Willcox, owned by Arizona’s G&T Cooperatives/Arizona Electric Power Cooperative, is and for more than 50 years has been a vital and important part of the societal and economic fabric of the region and has provided jobs as well as reliable, safe and affordable electric power to rural Arizona, California and New Mexico residents who otherwise would have none,
And, Whereas, the Apache Generating Station and its cooperative employees have always been, are and will always strive to be responsible corporate citizens and environmental stewards,
And, Whereas, the Apache Generating Station and its cooperative employees have always worked professionally and proactively with local, state and federal agencies and always has and will continue to meet or exceed regulatory standards,
And, Whereas, the Apache Generating Station has been part of a dynamic and ongoing process with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to implement “low NOx burner and Overfire Air” equipment on its two coal-fired steam units to reduce NOx (nitrogen oxide) emissions which contribute to what the agencies call ‘regional haze,’
And, Whereas, the Apache Generating Station in 1989 installed low NOx burners, overfire and underfire air modifications to its Steam Unit 2 at a cost of $2 million,
In 1993, installed an upgraded version of low NOx burners, overfire, and underfire air modifications to its Steam Unit 3 at a cost of $2.7 million,
And in 2008 installed upgraded low NOx burners and overfire air modifications at a cost of $3 million – all for a total of $7.7 million,
And, Whereas, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is now proposing that the Apache Generating Station be required to install ‘selective catalytic reduction’ (SCR) technology on its steam units to further reduce already low NOx emissions – at a cost estimated by the cooperative of up to $218 million,
And, Whereas, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, itself a strict regulating agency, has said this prohibitively expensive technology would have an “imperceptible” impact on regional haze,
And, Whereas, the annual operating and maintenance costs of SCR technology would be almost 30 times the annual margins of Arizona’s G&T Cooperatives,
And, Whereas, given the prohibitive financial impact of a technology that the state of Arizona’s own Department of Environmental Quality says is unnecessary, one or both of the Apache Generating Station’s steam units could be forced to shut down with the resulting loss of jobs and the ripple effect to the already-depressed regional economy,
Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Cochise County Board of Supervisors opposes the proposed EPA mandate for SCR technology and supports the Apache Generating Station’s ongoing efforts to comply with the state of Arizona’s State Implementation Plan (SIP) process for controlling emissions that contribute to regional haze,
And, further, be it resolved that the Cochise County Board of Supervisors urges the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to consider all the impacts its proposed mandate would have not only on the Apache Generating Station but to the entire region and all the rural members who receive power from it and not mandate the installation of SCR technology,
And, Whereas, the Apache Generating Station and its cooperative employees have always been, are and will always strive to be responsible corporate citizens and environmental stewards,
And, Whereas, the Apache Generating Station and its cooperative employees have always worked professionally and proactively with local, state and federal agencies and always has and will continue to meet or exceed regulatory standards,
And, Whereas, the Apache Generating Station has been part of a dynamic and ongoing process with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to implement “low NOx burner and Overfire Air” equipment on its two coal-fired steam units to reduce NOx (nitrogen oxide) emissions which contribute to what the agencies call ‘regional haze,’
And, Whereas, the Apache Generating Station in 1989 installed low NOx burners, overfire and underfire air modifications to its Steam Unit 2 at a cost of $2 million,
In 1993, installed an upgraded version of low NOx burners, overfire, and underfire air modifications to its Steam Unit 3 at a cost of $2.7 million,
And in 2008 installed upgraded low NOx burners and overfire air modifications at a cost of $3 million – all for a total of $7.7 million,
And, Whereas, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is now proposing that the Apache Generating Station be required to install ‘selective catalytic reduction’ (SCR) technology on its steam units to further reduce already low NOx emissions – at a cost estimated by the cooperative of up to $218 million,
And, Whereas, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality, itself a strict regulating agency, has said this prohibitively expensive technology would have an “imperceptible” impact on regional haze,
And, Whereas, the annual operating and maintenance costs of SCR technology would be almost 30 times the annual margins of Arizona’s G&T Cooperatives,
And, Whereas, given the prohibitive financial impact of a technology that the state of Arizona’s own Department of Environmental Quality says is unnecessary, one or both of the Apache Generating Station’s steam units could be forced to shut down with the resulting loss of jobs and the ripple effect to the already-depressed regional economy,
Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Cochise County Board of Supervisors opposes the proposed EPA mandate for SCR technology and supports the Apache Generating Station’s ongoing efforts to comply with the state of Arizona’s State Implementation Plan (SIP) process for controlling emissions that contribute to regional haze,
And, further, be it resolved that the Cochise County Board of Supervisors urges the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to consider all the impacts its proposed mandate would have not only on the Apache Generating Station but to the entire region and all the rural members who receive power from it and not mandate the installation of SCR technology,
Department's Next Steps (if approved):
Have Resolution signed and recorded; copy to AEPCO.
Impact of NOT Approving/Alternatives:
Cochise County will not be on record opposing the new EPA requirements to install ‘selective catalytic reduction’ (SCR) technology
To BOS Staff: Document Disposition/Follow-Up:
See Dept's Next Steps, above