xcel
10-11-2007, 09:07 PM
Paul Farrell, a DEP supervising environmental analyst believes the new program could help improve air quality by reducing dependence on older power plants :confused: (http://www.connpost.com/ci_7145946?source=rss)
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/School_Bus_Emissions.jpgRob Varnon – Connecticut – Oct. 11, 2007
Lowering the emissions of school busses is a great thing but has anyone ever seen such a clear cut case of the fox guarding the hen house wrt diesel powered electrical generators? This environmental analyst needs a quick education on what a diesel generator outputs vs. just about anything other then a 2-stroke! -- Ed.
Environmental advocacy groups across Connecticut — on the verge of celebrating their victory in their fight to reduce diesel emissions — were dumfounded to see a new energy program subsidizing dozens of new diesel generators.
State lawmakers approved a $10 million program to reduce diesel soot emissions for school buses this year.
But at the same time, the state Department of Public Utility Control has been reviewing applications from companies, cities and other organizations as part of a program to help cover the costs of installing emergency generators. The program's goal is to add enough electric generation to allow people to switch their buildings off the grid during high demand days, to prevent possible blackouts.
Connecticut's electricity transmission system is considered weak and during the hottest days, when demand is highest, experts are concerned the demand could overload the grid. Electricity customers also pay older electric power plants to keep running, even when not needed, because demand and supply levels are so close. This program might eliminate the need for those plants.
However, "It's ridiculous and tragic," Roger Reynolds, senior staff attorney for Connecticut Fund for the Environment, said of the diesel generator plan.
Right after the Legislature agrees to take diesel pollution out of the air, "Now, we're putting it back in," he said.
The DEP this week issued a draft of the general permit it must issue for the program by state law.
New Haven-based CFE joined Clean Water Action, Environment Connecticut and others in demanding the state Department of Environmental Protection issue strong general permits to control pollution and to only use diesel engines as a last resort in an emergency.
Reynolds said diesel engines are dirtier than other types of fuels - even 50-year-old oil- or coal-fired power plants.
Running the engines on heavy demand days generally translates into the hottest days, which is when pollution is heaviest, he said. This will impact urban areas the hardest because they have the worst air quality, according to Reynolds and others … http://www.connpost.com/ci_7145946?source=rss
http://www.cleanmpg.com/photos/data/501/School_Bus_Emissions.jpgRob Varnon – Connecticut – Oct. 11, 2007
Lowering the emissions of school busses is a great thing but has anyone ever seen such a clear cut case of the fox guarding the hen house wrt diesel powered electrical generators? This environmental analyst needs a quick education on what a diesel generator outputs vs. just about anything other then a 2-stroke! -- Ed.
Environmental advocacy groups across Connecticut — on the verge of celebrating their victory in their fight to reduce diesel emissions — were dumfounded to see a new energy program subsidizing dozens of new diesel generators.
State lawmakers approved a $10 million program to reduce diesel soot emissions for school buses this year.
But at the same time, the state Department of Public Utility Control has been reviewing applications from companies, cities and other organizations as part of a program to help cover the costs of installing emergency generators. The program's goal is to add enough electric generation to allow people to switch their buildings off the grid during high demand days, to prevent possible blackouts.
Connecticut's electricity transmission system is considered weak and during the hottest days, when demand is highest, experts are concerned the demand could overload the grid. Electricity customers also pay older electric power plants to keep running, even when not needed, because demand and supply levels are so close. This program might eliminate the need for those plants.
However, "It's ridiculous and tragic," Roger Reynolds, senior staff attorney for Connecticut Fund for the Environment, said of the diesel generator plan.
Right after the Legislature agrees to take diesel pollution out of the air, "Now, we're putting it back in," he said.
The DEP this week issued a draft of the general permit it must issue for the program by state law.
New Haven-based CFE joined Clean Water Action, Environment Connecticut and others in demanding the state Department of Environmental Protection issue strong general permits to control pollution and to only use diesel engines as a last resort in an emergency.
Reynolds said diesel engines are dirtier than other types of fuels - even 50-year-old oil- or coal-fired power plants.
Running the engines on heavy demand days generally translates into the hottest days, which is when pollution is heaviest, he said. This will impact urban areas the hardest because they have the worst air quality, according to Reynolds and others … http://www.connpost.com/ci_7145946?source=rss