Desert Rock believes that global climate change is a very serious issue and is committed to working with governments and industry to develop laws and policies - and most importantly, advanced technologies - that will reduce human-caused emissions of CO2 and other greenhouse gases. Desert Rock is actively exploring options that may prepare the project to capture and sequester CO2 emissions from the plant in the future when technology exists that makes this process technically and economically feasible.

 

In a landmark publication by experts at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in early 2007, IGCC is compared to modern, super-critical pulverized coal technology. The ability to retrofit IGCC with carbon capture and sequestration appears more costly and more difficult than with modern pulverized coal technology. IGCC also does not compare favorably to super-critical pulverized coal technology when analyzed for its ability to burn low btu, high ash content coal like Navajo Coal.

Here are some quotations from the publication:

 

"It is critical that the government RD&D program not fall into the trap of picking a technology “ winner,” especially at a time when there is great coal combustion and conversion development activity underway in the private sector in both the United States and abroad. Approaches with capture other than IGCC could prove as attractive with further technology development for example, oxygen fired pulverized coal combustion, especially with lower quality coals [Navajo Coal]."

 

"Although coal-based power generation has a negative environmental image, advanced PC plants have very low emissions; and PC emissions control technology continues to improve and will improve further."

 

"The motivation for pursuing IGCC is the potential for better environmental performance at a lower marginal cost, easier CO2 capture for sequestration, and higher efficiency. However, the projected capital cost and operational availability of today’s IGCC technology make it difficult to compete with conventional PC units at this time."

 

Click here for a link to the MIT Report.

 

Part of the solution to solving the issue of high pollutants, high cost and low reliability in our electricity system is to replace old coal units with new, advanced technology units like the Desert Rock Energy Project. Any long term solution to reduction in man-made greenhouse gases will have to include replacing old units that are prevalent in our nation. According to the Department of Energy, the U.S. presently has approximately 315,000 of installed mega-watt capacity using coal for fuel. By 2030, over half of these coal plants will be more than 50 years old.

The simple, though admittedly time-consuming and costly, effort to replace these older units with new super-critical coal-fired boilers of the same total capacity would reduce greenhouse gases emitted by such coal-fired projects by as much as 25%. For example, the technology proposed for Desert Rock is approximately 25% more efficient than the typical 50 year old coal plant, meaning it will use 25% less fuel and emit 25% less CO2.

 

The Desert Rock Energy Project will be constructed with the most advanced, proven technology for a large scale coal fired power plant available. This technology is more advanced than the US EPA required technology called Best Available Control Technology or B.A.C.T. The technology includes:

• Low nitrogen oxide (NOx) burners and selective catalytic reduction to control NOx emissions;
• Low sulfur coal and wet flue gas desulfurization to control sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions;
• Wet flue gas desulfurization and a wet stack to control acid gas emissions, including sulfuric acid mist;
• Wet flue gas desulfurization to control mercury emissions. Activated carbon and hydrated quicklime injection to be installed before the fabric filter baghouse if needed for additional reductions, with secondary reductions in SO2 emissions and sulfuric acid mist;
• A fabric filter to control particulate emissions; and
• High efficiency combustion to control carbon monoxide (CO) and volatile organic compound emissions.

Emissions Control Technology Slides

 

Two state-of-the-art supercritical, pulverized coal-burning boilers will provide more efficient power than standard designed boilers. This means that the Desert Rock Energy Project will burn 10 to 15% less coal to make the same amount of electricity. This mean the Desert Rock plant will produce 10 to 15% less greenhouse gases.

 

Desert Rock Energy has committed publicly to a Voluntary Regional Air Quality Improvement Plan with the US EPA, US Forest Service, National Parks Service, and the Navajo Nation Environmental Protection Agency. Desert Rock Energy has also executed an MOU with the Navajo Nation EPA committing to the Plan. It is likely that, because of the Plan, either SO2 or NOx emissions in the area will actually be reduced overall. Click here to read the details.

 

The Desert Rock Power Plant is designed to have minimized impact on the environment. In contrast to the existing power plants near by, the Desert Rock project is far cleaner.

 

The Bureau of Indian Affairs must approve the land lease for the Desert Rock Energy project. The Bureau has determined that the approval of the Business Site Lease and other aspects of the proposed project is a major Federal action that requires the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS).

In addition to the Navajo Nation, other Federal agencies cooperating with the Bureau, the lead Federal agency preparing this EIS, include the Bureau of Land Management, Office of Surface Mining Reclamation and Enforcement, Environmental Protection Agency, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Before the lease can be approved each of these agencies must approve aspects of the construction and operation of the power plant, and/or the development and operation of the coal mine.
EPA and Air Permit Documents

Desert Rock Energy Project is working very closely with local constituents to address concerns and answer questions. As part of the air and operating permit process, meetings at various locations near the project were held to address issues and give people access to agencies charged with evaluating the project.
Meetings held for the Desert Rock Energy Project

Desert Rock is sensitive to the impact of the power plant and mining facilities on the area. All aspects of the construction and operation are being studied to ensure local, state and federal regulations are met.

Sub-bituminous coal will be mined from the Navajo Lease by BHP Navajo Coal Company. The coal has low sulfur levels to allow for minimized sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions.