On Wednesday (June 25th), Florida Governor Crist signed a historic piece of energy legislation that advances Florida one step closer to establishing a cap and trade program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Florida is the first state in the Southeast to adopt a law of this nature. While Crist has prevented new coal plant construction and while this article describes a handful of solar thermal projects in Florida, Joe has followed and described some attempts by companies in Florida to pursue nuclear, encouraged by the governor.
Other state progress is happening in New Hampshire, whose Governor John Lynch just recently signed his state on to the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative (RGGI).
In other power plant-related news in states, Virginia is mid-showdown over the future of coal in the state, an issue which has left a huge divide between northern Virginia and southern Virginia. Unfortunately, the latest coal plant in Virgina has unanimously won approval (on the condition that another coal plant start to burn natural gas). Still, this is a state to keep an eye on. In terms of coal, but also in the upcoming presidential election (see this 2007 example of the changing political orientation).
Finally, all has been quiet on the Kansas front. But it’s worth keeping in mind that every single Representative and Senator is up for re-election in November. So once the new pieces are set, it will literally be an entirely different game.
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There is one danger in not letting some of these coal-fired power plants being built: An extreme cold snap that requires lots of extra power and as backup for plants and grids damaged by severe weather such as ice storms or hurricanes or by earthquakes.
In the short term this is always a possibility since weather from year-to-year can be quite variable and unpredictable. It will probably be at least a decade before an new nuke plants come on stream.
Stopping coal plants is just 10 percent of the effort. The other 90 percent is to put on the electrical grid enough other electrical power or enough efficiency and conservation so these coal plants won’t be missed.
Remember California and 2000/2001 electrical grid problems. That would not look good if it happens because coal plants weren’t built.