Local plants among nation’s dirtiest

Two coal-fired power plants in the Four Corners region have again earned dubious honors. Once again, the Four Corners Power Plant and the San Juan Generating Station have been named two of the dirtiest power plants in the nation.

The “Dirty Kilowatts” report, a product of the watchdog group the Environmental Integrity Project, ranks the power plants on the basis of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, carbon dioxide and mercury emissions. The group looks at all four pollutants both in terms of total tons of emissions and also the rate of emissions.

Despite recent retrofits, the Four Corners Power Plant and the San Juan Generating Station were both listed as among the 50 dirtiest power plants in the U.S. Not only that, but the plants were each listed as violators for mercury, nitrogen oxide and carbon dioxide emissions.

In addition, the Four Corners Power Plant is the largest single nitrogen oxide polluter in the nation. Nitrogen oxide contributes to the formation of ozone, which is a threat to human health and also creates acid rain. On the plus side, neither plant was listed for sulfur dioxide emissions, a contributor to haze.

Ian Levin, an attorney with the Environmental Integrity Project, noted that power plants are a major national polluter, accounting for 40 percent of carbon dioxide, more than 60 percent of sulfur dioxide, 22 percent all of nitrogen oxide and more than 30 percent of mercury emissions in the United States. While some plants are undertaking retrofits and beginning to clean up their act, carbon dioxide pollution, the direct contributor to global warming, continues unabated and could rise 34 percent by 2030. In spite of hopeful signs from the U.S. Congress, dozens of new coal-fired power plants are also awaiting approval.

“While Congress is poised to seriously consider legislation to limit the greenhouse gases that made 2006 the hottest year on record, the electric power industry is racing to build a new fleet of coal-fired power plants that rely on conventional combustion technologies that would only accelerate global warming,” Levin said. “Once utility companies secure their air pollution permits, we can expect them to argue that these new plants should be ‘grandfathered,’ or exempt from any pending limits on greenhouse gases.”

In addition to pointing out problems, the Dirty Kilowatts report highlights ways to reduce CO2 emissions from power plants. It suggests phasing out and permanently retiring the nation’s oldest and least efficient plants, and reducing electricity demand through smarter building codes, and low-cost conservation efforts. The report also encourages investments in renewable energy sources. “Dirty Kilowatts” also details one bright spot, noting that 37 years after the Clean Air Act, power plants are finally beginning to clean up their sulfur dioxide emissions.

Durango Academy to open doors

A new education alternative has taken shape in Durango. Durango Academy, a magnet program in School District 9-R, will open its doors later this month. An open house for the new school, which will focus on an “early college program,” is scheduled for Aug. 8.

Replacing the Excel Charter School, Durango Academy will emphasize college preparation for 8th through 10th grades and enable students to get through school more quickly than their peers. Through the early-college program students will graduate from Durango Academy with a high school diploma and two years of post-secondary education credit, an associate’s degree or vocational certification.

“We envision a school that will help students get the education they need to live their dreams sooner rather than later,” said Durango Academy Administrator Julé Skoglund.

Skoglund added that the plan is to get students into college by their junior year. “We’ve developed a solid academic program that combines real-life, project-based learning with a focus on getting students into college or other post-secondary classes by their junior year of high school,” she said.

Durango Academy replaces Excel Charter School, which closed this spring after several tumultuous years of teacher and administrative changes. The idea for Durango Academy grew out of a yearlong study of alternative high school programs by a committee of former Excel parents and teachers and district teachers and administrators.

“One of our goals was to develop a program that didn’t duplicate existing services in the district and that would complement the academic program at Durango High School,” said Skoglund. “The early college program has been successful in other districts.

They serve students who thrive in a small-school atmosphere and who want to get through school sooner rather than later.”

On Aug. 8, Durango Academy will host an open house for this fall’s 8th and 9th grade students and their families from 5 to 6 p.m., in the Arts and Sciences Building on the Old High School campus across 12th St. from the Durango Public Library. Registration for fall classes takes place on Aug. 16, and Durango Academy will open serving only 8th and 9th grade students this fall. For more information, call 259-0203.

Downtown community meeting set

Durangoans have another chance to weigh in on the future of downtown. The City of Durango, Durango Business Improvement District and La Plata Economic Development Action Partnership will host a Downtown Durango Community Meeting this Friday. The Aug. 3 meeting runs from 10 a.m. to noon at the Durango Arts Center and will provide an update on the current projects affecting the vitality and character of downtown Durango.

“We held our first community meeting in March to revitalize the efforts of the Downtown Vision and Strategic Plan,” said Phil Bryson, who is coordinating the community effort on behalf of the BID. “We want to bring the community up to speed, inform interested citizens and encourage involvement in shaping the future of downtown.”

Current projects to be reviewed during the session include the Main Avenue sidewalk replacement project; the new signage and way-finding program; the downtown market research and management plan; and the conference center feasibility study update. There will also be a review of various city initiatives including parking and the transit center and Narrow Gauge and track crossing resurfacing.

“There is a lot occurring in the Downtown,” said Bob Kunkel, the city’s downtown business specialist. “You’ll be seeing things actually changing in Downtown over the next year. We want to encourage folks to come out and be actively involved in these efforts. Don’t wait until decisions are made.” 

The Downtown Durango Vision and Strategic Plan, which included input from study groups and citizens, was completed and approved by the City Council in 2005.

LPEA refunds $2 million to customers

The check is in the mail for La Plata Electric Association customers who have maintained an account for at least one year. A patronage capital refund will be issued during August, and the size of the refund will correspond to the amount of money each customer has paid over the years.

The LPEA Board of Directors recently voted to refund $2 million in patronage capital to LPEA members. These refunds will be credited to customers’ electricity bill or mailed as checks during the August billing cycle. “These refunds are a major point differentiating us from other types of utilities,” said Greg Munro, LPEA CEO. “We give the money back to our members instead of giving it to investors.”

Annually, the electricity payments made by customers above the cost of providing their electric service is placed into a patronage capital account in each member’s name in proportion to the member’s contribution to those LPEA margins.

– compiled by Will Sands