Group questions coal project

Grant PUD: No decisions made

EPHRATA - Grant County PUD commissioners could decide in two weeks about the utility's role in a controversial 250-megawatt generating coal-fired power plant in Montana.

Grant PUD General Manager Tim Culbertson spoke of the utility possibly acquiring 50 to 75 megawatts of coal power and taking an equity role in the Great Falls, Montana-based Highwood Generating Station. The station hasn't been built.

He said he learned about the PUD's chance to get involved with the project after the Yellowstone Valley Co-op decided not to back the project.

On its Web site, the Montana-based Citizens for Clean Energy suggested Grant PUD is being courted as a new project partner.

"The PUD is an obvious replacement partner," said Citizens Chairman Richard Liebert on Wednesday.

Liebert said he is a Montana rancher and retired Army lieutenant colonel.

A group of farmers and ranchers sued Cascade County over the farmland's rezoning, Liebert said.

The lawsuit was written about in the Great Falls Tribune newspaper.

He said he wasn't involved in the litigation.

A portion of the plant's air quality permit was remanded in May by the Montana State Board of Environmental Review, according to an order posted on the state board's Web site.

The plant must complete a study regarding the plant's particulate emissions of 2.5 microns or smaller, said David Rusoff, an attorney with the state board. The study helps predict the plant's emissions, he said.

Rusoff said the study wasn't done earlier because it's his understanding the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency hadn't developed testing methods. He believes other information also wasn't available to do the work, he said.

No commitments have been made by the PUD other than to have staff members gather more information about the plant.

The PUD would be hedging against its water risks if it did buy power from the Montana plant, Culbertson said.

The PUD is exploring another power source in case power production decreases at its dams during a low water year, Grant PUD Commissioner Tom Flint said last week.

But three Grant County residents attended Monday's commission meeting with questions about the utility's involvement in the project.

Soap Lake farmer Cindy Ray said coal is always mentioned as one of the "dirtiest" industries and asked commissioners how costs associated with the plant would be spread out.

She also asked if there would be time set aside for a public hearing and wanted a long-term plan.

Flint said clean-coal technology planned for the plant is better than past technology.

He also said the PUD will still explore other renewable resources. He added the challenge in Grant County is finding constant wind and the right spot for wind turbines to generate more power.

Flint said buying high-priced power on the open market is "economical suicide" for the PUD.

He added that he knew the plant is controversial. If the PUD bought power from the plant, it would be a small amount of its portfolio.

Culbertson said wind power is not going to help keep the lights on. Utilities will be fined $1 million per day if they aren't kept on, he added.

Grant County is expecting growth over the next five years and may need 200 extra megawatts of power, he said.

PUD Commissioner Greg Hansen said many questions need to be answered before he's ready to make a decision.

Resident John Glasco said he was concerned about Culbertson's comments because the PUD's dams were just relicensed.

It appears the utility is behind the curve if it's trying to keep the lights on, Glasco added.

Culbertson said more requirements are being placed on the PUD by the Federal Energy Regulator Commission and the North American Electric Reliability Corporation.

"There are many, many obligations we have to meet," he said.

The plant hasn't been built, but a site near Great Falls was selected by Southern Montana Electric Generation & Transmission Cooperative Inc. near Great Falls, Mont., according to the cooperative's Web site.