(I submitted the following to UTC)
PSE Ending Coal Power Questions
My September 28th Puget Sound Energy bill included a "Notice of Requested Sale, PSE Coal-Fired Power Plant" detailing its intent to respond to the Washington Clean Energy Transformation Act requiring PSE no longer supply its customers with power from coal-fired generation by January 1, 2026.
"PSE filed a request with the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) to sell "all of its interests in coal-fired steam plant" in southern Montana by the end of 2020 to Northwestern Energy. PSE also requested the UTC approve its proposed accounting treatment for the transaction that "addresses how decommissioning and remediation costs as well as unrecovered plant, will be included in customer rates"
It's not clear what the "costs" will be for customers. A Wikipedia Puget Sound Energy description included the following regarding their power sources.
"Coal accounted for 36% of PSE's electricity fuel mix in 2018. PSE's partial ownership of Eastern Montana's Colstrip Generation Station represents the single largest power-generating facility PSE owns, approximately 700 MW of generating capacity. Hydroelectricity 31%, gas power 22%, and wind 10%, provided the remainder."
The PSE "Notice" included their agreement to purchase power from Northwestern Energy through December 31, 2025 to replace some of the power supply that will be lost in the sale. The only reliable source in 2026 will likely be additional natural gas powered plants, of limited benefit from reduced CO2 emissions. The costs will be "substantial" and the benefits of replacing CO2 will be offset by the global warming from increased H2O.
PSE needs to provide anticipated consumer rates and their post coal-fired power plant energy sources to meet Washington Clean energy Transformation Act requirements in 2026.
No comments:
Post a Comment