“Mercury Removal Talk” Part 4, begins with Gene Decker, spokesperson for Wyodak Plant of Black Hills Corporation, near Gillette, Wyoming, continuing with more audience questions.
By By Black Hills Today.com staff writer - Kathy L. Swensen
“Mercury Removal Talk” Gene Decker, Part 4
The “Mercury Removal Talk” Part 4, begins with Gene Decker, spokesperson for Wyodak Plant of Black Hills Corporation, near Gillette, Wyoming, continuing with more audience questions. One question in particular was asked about the future changes coming to coal burning electrical power plants. Decker said that they are keeping up with what the technological advances are, and are experimenting and testing the possibilities of implementation; and depending on those who will be setting new regulations, etc., “we'll be ready to go.”
Another sincere question was asked about how new changes will currently affect costs of power. Decker said, “it'll go up about a $1 per magawatt. Keep in mind, we're currently producing electricity at $20 a megawatt. So the cost would go up to $21 a megawatt. " Here in our part of the world, electricity is pretty cheap. In my opinion,” Decker said, “when electricity gets expensive, so will civilization.”
Decker also said: “When considering the cost of producing electrical power by wind, solar, natural gas, the cost is around $16 - $20 per megawatt. We've been building natural gas powered plants to help handle the 'peak periods' of consumption. One thing needs to be remembered, is that the machinery used in a coal – burning power plant, doesn't like it if it is heated up and cooled down, and heated up again and cooled down again. It gets more expensive powering them up to run and then shut them down, and fire them up again. It is cheaper and more efficient to keep them running all the time.”
Taxation was discussed in relation to exploring carbon reduction. There are two ways of addressing this, Decker said. “The first is, you can improve efficiencies, so that for every megawatt you get, and, you can reduce the pounds of Co2. "I think we are at the limit of what those particular technologies are now. We are right at the ragged edge of what we know about metallurgy so the thing won't melt on us or explode on us. So the thing is, you have to make smart decisions about thermal-efficiency vs safety and longevity, and I believe we have achieved, in the United States, at least, by being right on the edge of that." Decker continued, "So, 2nd thing is, if we're going to do less carbons and other strategies, we need to be smarter how we use electricity as consumers.” Decker described 'low consumer usage' and 'hi-peak' usage, and strategies that may be required 'per household,' in the future to be more efficient in consumption, as consumers.
"With all the descriptions of how we as consumers can help our own households to run really efficiently with electricity," Decker said in summary, “ we will be needing to apply a multitude of strategies to reduce carbon toxins, even to the point that we have more passenger train service around our country." He said, “I'd really like that!”
Click below for the Gene Decker interview with Campbell County Chamber of Commerce Investor Relations Manager, Christine Overton, after the “Mercury Removal Talk” at Gillette Library, Wyoming.
