June 2, 2010
Emily Peter
Abilene Reporter-News
The hearing for Tenaska’s air quality permit application has begun in Austin this morning with a Tenaska official touting international interest in the "revolutionary" carbon-capturing technology the coal-fired power plant could initiate.
The hearing is taking place before two administrative law judges and a small group of spectators including a handful of Sweetwater residents, Tenaska officials and representatives from the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
The judges will take the testimonies back to TCEQ, which will decide whether to grant Tenaska the air quality permit required to construct the $3 billion Trailblazer Energy Center.
Greg Kunkel, Tenaska vice president of environmental affairs was the first witness brought by Tenaksa.
Kunkel touted the international interest in this plant’s plan to capture 85-90 percent of its carbon byproduct to sell to Permian Basin companies for use in oil drilling.
He then faced questions from a spokeswoman with the Multi-County Coalition, which represents a group of citizens who oppose Tenaska from counties surrounding the proposed plant site.
Through those questions, Kunkel admitted the plant’s future is dependent on a variety of incentives currently proposed at the federal and state level.
"We would not move forward until we have all the necessary (funds), unless we are persuaded other revenues are sufficient to justify the project," Kunkel said.
He also explained the some of the emission levels proposed in this air quality permit are higher than what would be required to qualify for tax credits with the Texas Clean Energy Project recently passed by Texas legislature.
He said Tenaska could work to lower those emissions to qualify.
The cross examination will likely continue through the morning.
Tenaska opposition groups have asked to hold testimony from their expert witnesses until Monday. They are expected to present testimony about an alternative type of carbon-busting technology and global warming, which has not previously been allowed in similar hearings.
Continue checking back to the Reporter-News for updates throughout the week.
© 2010 Abilene Reporter-News. All rights reserved.
FairUse