CUB Opposes Coal Exportation
Posted on April 8, 2013 by Nadine Hanhan
Tags, Climate and Conservation
Recently, the CUB Board of Governors reviewed its position coal exportation in the Pacific Northwest, and adopted a resolution to oppose the establishment of coal export terminals in Oregon. We’re opposed to coal exportation for several reasons.
First and foremost, CUB expects that a rise in coal exports will ultimately lead to a rise in the price of domestic coal. This is because more coal exported abroad will make less coal available for domestic use –an implicit decrease in the domestic supply of coal. All else being equal, this decrease in the supply of domestic coal would lead to an increase in domestic coal prices. This, in turn, would translate into higher costs for coal-fired electricity generation and ultimately, higher electricity rates for residential ratepayers and other customer groups. As CUB’s main mission is to represent residential customers, CUB has serious reservations about the likely effect of coal exports on residential electricity prices.
Second, because foreign coal plants are not subject to the same air pollution regulations, there is a risk that coal burned abroad will emit more pollution than if the same coal was burned in an EPA-regulated plant in the United States. Foreign plants are not under the jurisdiction of the EPA, and as such are not obligated to install the same pollution control technology as American coal plants. These coal pollutants (mercury, nitrogen oxides (NOx), sulfur dioxide (SO2), and others) are separate from the carbon emissions also released by coal, which is CUB’s third concern.
Exporting coal abroad does not change the fact that at some point, someone will burn that coal, thereby releasing carbon into the atmosphere. This coal, whether burned in India, China, Korea, or some other nation, will have the same impact on climate change as it would if it were burned in the US. In addition, Oregon will still be impacted by the mercury, NOx, SO2 and other pollutants released as the prevailing winds carry them across the ocean to Oregon. The bottom line is that exporting coal to be burned abroad does nothing to limit the effects of climate change overall, and does little to impact the effects of the other pollutants in Oregon. Burning the coal abroad will also negatively impact the pocketbooks of Oregonians who will pay higher prices for coal used domestically and lessen the impact of Oregon’s greenhouse gas reduction efforts.
CUB worked with Portland General Electric (PGE) and various community partners to obtain an agreement to close the Boardman plant by 2020. CUB is now working at the Commission to require PacifiCorp and Idaho Power to do analyses similar to those conducted by PGE. CUB is active in the fight against climate change, and because of our mission and goals, it would be counterproductive for CUB to support coal exports.
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03/31/17 | 0 Comments | CUB Opposes Coal Exportation