By an 11-10 vote, the Governor’s Commission on Global Warming
recommended Thursday that no new coal-fired power plants be built in
Arkansas until at least 2020, when new technology could reduce carbon
emissions.

Should Gov. Mike Beebe and the Legislature make such a position law, it
would cover a new plant in the works in Hempstead County.

Other topics elicited sharp debate among commission members, with
environmental advocates disagreeing with industry representatives.

Those issues included whether to reduce speed limits on Arkansas’
interstate highways from 70 mph to 60 mph, to require sidewalks near all
schools, to reduce the size of parking lots to discourage driving, and
to tax carbon emissions.

State Rep. Kathy Webb, DLittle Rock, the commission cochairman, said she
hasn’t gauged the support to the power plant moratorium with the
governor or with fellow legislators.

“It was important to make a statement, regardless of whether or not it
would impact [public policy ],” Webb said.

Beebe spokesman Matt De-Cample said that at this point the governor has
no position on the power-plant recommendation.

“The governor is going to take all the recommendations of the Global
Warming Commission and look at them in the big picture,” DeCample said.
“There have been a lot of ideas. That’s why the governor supported it
being created. We want to look at it all.” The other commission
cochairman, former state Sen. Kevin Smith, D-Helena-West Helena, said
it’s important for the state to act now against the plant. He said the
Hempstead County plant and one already approved for Mississippi County,
will produce carbon emissions equal to all the cars now on Arkansas
roads.

“Nobody’s worked harder to get jobs in the Delta than I have, but if
somebody came to me and wanted to put one of these in our community, as
bad as our economy is, and as bad as I need customers, I’ll tell them to
turn around and go home,” said Smith, an insurance agent.

The commission voted to allow the Mississippi County plant as long as it
retrofits with equipment to capture more carbon emissions when that
technology becomes available. The Hempstead County plant could be built
by 2020 if by then the technology has advanced to capture the carbon
gases it would release.

The plant is being built by Southwestern Electric Power Co.

The company issued this statement about the commission’s vote: “Power
plant projects require long-term advanced planning and take multiple
years to permit and complete. SWEPCO has already invested hundreds of
millions of dollars. It will be one of the cleanest coal plants in North
America and has been approved by the [Arkansas Public Service Commission
]. It would not be good public policy to change the rules now after much
planning and investment has been done to meet the energy needs of
SWEPCO’s customers.” The plant air permit is now pending before the
Department of Environmental Quality. That process, as well as a possible
appeal to the Pollution Control and Ecology Commission, likely will last
into next year, said department Director Teresa Marks.

Thursday’s meeting was the last by the Global Warming Commission, which
has been meeting since October 2007.

Several unsettled measures in the draft report were voted on, including
the plant issue. The draft will be amended on the basis of discussion
and action Thursday, and some tinkering could occur over the next month.
The final report is expected by Oct. 31.

The commission was set up by Act 696 by Webb during the 2007 legislative
session.

Most members were appointed by Beebe. Some were appointed by House
Speaker Benny Petrus, D-Stuttgart, and Senate President Pro Tempore Jack
Critcher, DBatesville.

Public comments limited to two minutes each were taken at the start of
the meeting.

Malcolm Cleveland, a geography professor at the University of Arkansas
at Fayetteville, opposed the plant in a vigorous presentation until Webb
cut him off when he passed his time limit.

“Jesus Christ,” the professor exclaimed as he returned to his seat.

Sen. Barbara Horn, D-Foreman, testified in favor of it, saying it was
good for her area and that she had confidence in the management of the
plant.

The commission later voted to support the possible options of placing
financial penalties on carbon emissions. One form of penalty would be
taxes.

Commission member Aubra Anthony of El Dorado, a forestry products
company executive, raised objections.
“Everyone likes to gang up on industry, but it’s the customer that’s
going to be hurt,” he said.

Webb emphasized that the item mandated no tax or other penalty but was
inserted to give Arkansas officials clout if Congress takes up the
matter.

The commission rejected a proposal to lower interstate speed limits in
light of objections that if it’s going to be done, then Congress should
do it for every state.

The word “mandate” was removed from several proposals affecting schools.
Instead, the commission decided that the phrase “should consider” was
better for these items: m Having sidewalks within one mile of all
schools and colleges. m Having bike paths for all schools and colleges.
m Having schools reduce the size of parking lots to encourage carpooling
and charge for parking. m Raise the legal age for a driver’s license
from 16 to 17 to reduce the number of drivers.

Commission member Annette Pagan of Winrock International questioned how
much effect reducing Arkansas carbon emissions will have worldwide.

Webb said other states and countries are also studying the issue.

“It’s the cumulative effect of all of our work that is going to address
the problem,” Webb said. “We would be remiss and out of step if we
didn’t do something.”

BY SETH BLOMELEY

Posted on Friday, September 26, 2008

http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/238400/