Letters to the Editor September 6, 2013

PRPA disputes environmental groups’ report

Platte River Power Authority’s Rawhide power plant was mentioned in Steve Lynn’s Aug. 9 Northern Colorado Business Report article, “Report Critical of Coal-fired Plants.” We would like to set the record straight on information included in the article. We know you strive for accuracy in informing the public, and we want to work with you. Platte River’s and Rawhide’s reputation and performance record on environmental stewardship are exemplary, and it is concerning that your news article would imply that the power plant is polluting northern Colorado’s rivers.

Your news story begins, “Coal-fired power plants are polluting Northern Colorado rivers with toxic heavy metals, according to a new report, but state officials have not pinned down the exact source of the pollution in many cases.” We assume the referenced report is “Closing the Floodgates: How the Coal Industry is Poisoning our Water and How We Can Stop It,” issued July 23, 2013, by the Sierra Club, Clean Water Action, Environmental Integrity Project, Earthjustice and Waterkeeper Alliance.

SPONSORED CONTENT

Select your Republic Services residential cart now!

In preparation for Republic Services becoming the primary provider of residential recycling, yard trimmings, and trash, residents should now select the best cart size and service schedule for their household needs.

The news story reports as fact that “three Colorado rivers—the Cache la Poudre, South Platte and St. Vrain – are considered impaired because of high levels of heavy metals associated with power plant discharge.” The story then says that Platte River’s Rawhide power plant “has a discharge permit that requires it to monitor for acidity, iron and suspended solids,” which implies that Rawhide power plant discharges are polluting Northern Colorado rivers.

The Rawhide power plant is a zero-liquid-discharge facility. Unlike many facilities around the United States, at Rawhide all process water is, in industry terms, “used to extinction on site.” That means that Platte River does not discharge water into rivers or other bodies of water. Zero discharge status is achieved through these measures: (1) dry handling of fly ash, a residual from coal when it is burned, and (2) the unique “closed loop” design of Hamilton Reservoir, which is the power plant’s cooling reservoir. The Rawhide power plant was designed with these features to make the best use of scarce Colorado water and to avoid the need for off-site discharges.

The facility does retain a discharge permit for stormwater runoff as required for all industrial facilities, as mentioned in the NCBR article and Sierra Club report, but no discharges have occurred under this permit due to the arid climate and smart site design.

Proactive measures Platte River has implemented include the following:

• Operation of seven groundwater monitoring wells to continuously assess any potential groundwater impacts.

• Assessment of all possible pathways from the Hamilton Reservoir, including a seepage study that is under way.

• Surface water sampling to monitor for contaminants.

• Operation of a monofill as a dry on-site facility with monitoring wells to manage fly ash and other coal combustion residuals. Handling of coal ash is regulated by the state of Colorado.

• Operating with a stormwater permit as required by Colorado law. Due to the way water is managed at the Rawhide site, there has never been an off-site discharge under this permit.

The Rawhide power plant is a 280-megawatt baseload resource that provides over half of the electrical energy for Estes Park, Fort Collins, Longmont and Loveland. It is one of the most reliable coal plants in the United States, and uses state-of-the art air quality control technology to reduce particulates, sulfur, NOx and mercury emissions. Though Rawhide meets or exceeds all applicable environmental laws and regulations, Platte River continues to invest in operational improvements to further reduce emissions. Hamilton Reservoir is supplied primarily by effluent from a Fort Collins water reclamation facility, minimizing use of freshwater sources for electric generation. It also provides habitat for waterfowl, and hosts the Audubon Society bird count each year. Platte River maintains two herds of bison at the Rawhide energy center to help maintain the grounds, as bison have less impact than other grazing species and complement the grassland ecosystem.

Thank you for working with us to correct any misinformation.

Jason Frisbie
Chief operating officer
Platte River Power Authority Board of Directors