ABEC Urges Arkansas Public Service Commission to Approve New Coal-Fueled Power Plant

ALEXANDRIA, Va., Nov. 19 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Americans for
Balanced Energy Choices (ABEC) today released a statement urging the
Arkansas Public Service Commission to approve Southwestern Electric Power
Co.'s (SWEPCO) John W. Turk, Jr. coal-fueled power plant in Hempstead
County, Arkansas. The 600 megawatt generating facility will use
ultra-supercritical technology to reduce emissions while bringing much
needed electricity generation to Southwestern Arkansas.
"By approving the Turk plant, the Commission will ensure that the
lights stay on and the electricity prices stay affordable in Arkansas, said
Joe Lucas, executive director of ABEC. "Coal is the most reliable, abundant
and affordable option for power generation in Arkansas and the Turk plant
demonstrates the ability of advanced clean coal technologies to meet
sustained superior environmental performance while generating the power
necessary to support a growing economy and population.
"Each new plant that utilizes advanced clean coal technologies helps
propel the coal-based utility industry toward the shared goal of a
near-zero emissions power plant, and a vote in favor of the Turk plant
represents a significant step closer to achieving that goal," said Lucas.
"Arkansans should be proud of SWEPCO's commitment to providing affordable,
reliable electricity while helping to advance the technologies that will be
the solution for meeting our nation's environmental challenges."
Between 2000 and 2006, Arkansas' population grew by 137,000 people to
2.8 million and is expected to increase another 10 percent by 2030. Couple
this growth with a rise in electricity consumption per capita, and Arkansas
could soon face an electricity shortfall if new power generation is not
added in the near future.
The Turk plant will utilize ultra-supercritical pulverized coal
technology, which means it operates at a higher efficiency than coal plants
built in the past and uses less coal to generate the same amount of
electricity. Carbon dioxide emissions will be reduced by nearly 4 million
tons and the facility also incorporates technologies to further reduce
emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, mercury and particulates.
Plans for the plant also call for a retro-fit application of carbon capture
and storage capabilities as soon as they are available.
A decision from the Arkansas Public Service Commission on the John W.
Turk, Jr. plant is expected by December 15, 2007.
Americans for Balanced Energy Choices (ABEC) is a non-profit,
non-partisan group that promotes a dialogue with recognized community
leaders across the nation to discuss balancing America's growing demand for
electricity with the need to protect the environment. For more information,
go to http://www.AmericasPower.org.