By Krystal Smalley
ksmalley@wbcowqel.com
The mention of last year’s polar vortex is enough to make one shiver in memory. But one conversation showed that the effects of that weather pattern and relating energy policies are still being felt.
The most recent Crawford Conversation featured North Central Electric Cooperative General Manager Markus Bryant discussing U.S. energy policy and how the region has dealt with the changes that come with it. Roughly 30 people, ranging from a county commissioner to Park District officials to business owners, attended the latest Crawford Conversation Tuesday.
According to Bryant, last winter’s polar vortex hit the 13-state region very hard. On Jan. 7, the region’s energy hit 141,000 megawatts at peak.
“We came within two average-size power plants (shutting down) – we’ve would’ve been in a blackout situation,” Bryant said.
During those peak moments, the region relied on its energy sources from coal (60 percent), gas (15 percent), and wind (7 percent), with a few additional energy sources coming from other areas. Though the companies relied heavily upon coal, much of that is due to the fact that the region currently does not have the infrastructure to provide natural gas during the winter with its limited gas line capacity.
That issue coupled with coal-fired plants shutting down because companies can’t afford to invest in them has led to Bryant seeing a recipe for disaster. He said without the nation relying more on coal and less on natural gas that does not have significant pipeline capacity enhancements, people will see worsening winter reliability.
Though natural gas is a viable alternative to coal, Bryant presented graphs that showed the volatility of natural gas prices versus coal prices. Currently, coal, natural gas, and nuclear energy are the backbone of energy in the country.
Bryant added that the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean Power Plan to reduce carbon dioxide is expected to increase prices 3 to 4 cents per kilowatt per hour. He noted that the regulations being placed upon energy companies would transfer the costs of doing business down on the consumer with higher energy costs and higher regulatory costs.
“Anybody who has a cheap electric rate now — you can kiss that goodbye in 12 to 24 months,” Bryant said.
The Crawford Conversation was organized by the leadership development team of the Crawford: 20/20 Vision and the Crawford County Young Professionals.
“We have two of these events a year,” explained Andrea Presler, President of the Crawford County Young Professionals. “They can be on pretty much any topic; so anything that is important to the citizens of the community or that is going to make this place a better place to work and live. Then we have different topics: leadership topics, we’ve had generational topics, conversations with different CEOs. So this one just came up next.
“I’m anxious to see the feedback we get after the speaker’s finished and the questions and answers that he receives,” Presler added.
Dave Williamson, Director of the Crawford County Partnership for Education and Economic Development, noted that the EPA has also extended its reach into Crawford County. The county commissioners and the Partnership have worked with the EPA to receive a $200,000 grant for Brownfield assessments. Though the grant money cannot help clean up a site, it does help identify sites that need work and assists in the planning. Currently, the grant has assisted in at least four projects in the county, though funds are still available for up to 20 more projects over the next few years.