I visited the Dec. 15 Department of Environmental Quality’s informational meeting on the air quality permit for the Holland Board of Public Works’ proposed 78-megawatt coal-fired generation plant. Why? Because I am concerned with all of the talk and plans for new electricity generation, with four permits already in process and possibly four more for Michigan, the “Water Wonderland” state. I also live only 40 miles east of this proposed plant and would continue to breathe its emissions along with the other two huge coal-fired utilities in the area.
Coal is old technology. It’s dirty and pollutes the air we breathe. Granted, new systems are better and more efficient but still not good. I was surprised on how many Holland residents were against plowing ahead with the project and how many questioned the great increase in output, from 11.5 megawatts to 78. It almost looks like BPW, a municipal system, is on a mission to challenge Consumers Energy.
The opportunity exists for the residents of Holland to put their money and their pride first, first towards underwriting energy conservation and second, underwriting extensive solar photovoltaics and wind turbines in the area (not in the U.P.). The backup and base load system needs to determined after all of the other items are studied and modeled to understand the potential of each.
The last effort is to determine the niche base that natural gas will supply. The wind and solar electricity potential can easily be determined and that will dictate the amount of natural gas turbine generation that will be needed. What a showcase this would be for other municipal systems around the country. When visitors come to Tulip Time, they could see and hear the energy story. I installed two kilowatts of photovoltaic capacity on my home, near Rockford, two year ago and have been satisfied by producing 22 percent of my own electricity from the sun two years running.
Just imaging the affect this would have on Holland’s load if PV were extensively installed through the area on homes, business, schools, factories churches, stand alone units etc. As for wind, there is no need to go to the U.P. because there are ample locations in and around Holland.
