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To locate City, County and State Purchasing Offices mentioned in articles below go to my “Tools to Follow the Money” Blog Entry posted September 13, 2009, there you will find a complete Directory of Governmental Bid and Contact Resources

03/05/10 Cave Spring, GA - New water project, which includes two new tanks and the replacement of substandard water lines throughout the city, is being funded through a federal stimulus package grant and low-interest loan - Rome News-Tribune: Read More 

03/05/10 Fort Collins, CO - Stimulus Funds help promote Clean Technology for Wastewater Treatment to Mexican and Chinese Companies - Fort Collins Coloradoan: Read More 

03/04/10 Netarts, OR - Netarts Oceanside Sanitary District is now seeking contractors to bid on a project to build a new treatment plant. The total project cost is estimated at around $21 million, with construction around $17 million and Stimulus Funded the Daily Journal of Commerce: Read More 

03/04/10 Donnellson, MS - City to File Application for Stimulus Funding for Wastewater Improvement Projects - Fort Madison Daily Democrat: Read More 

03/03/10 Swansea, MA - New desalination plant has received $1.2 million in federal stimulus funds and a low-interest $5.7 million loan - the Herald News: Read More 

03/02/10 Pierce County, WI - Village Board reviews Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements contingent on receiving Stimulus Grant - Pierce County Herald: Read More 

03/01/10 Ridgefield, CT - Work should start soon on $1.4 Million Stimulus Funded Water Project connecting 2 Schools to Clean Drinking Water - the Ridgefield Press: Read More 

02/28/10 California, MO - The City of California Phase 2 Up-Date on Sewer Project ARRA Funded by a $2,708,100 grant and a $2,708,000 loan - California Democrat: Read More 

02/28/10 Kendall County, IL - Wastewater Treatment facility that was ARRA Funded is 85% Completed - Beacon News: Read More 

02/26/10 Port Wentworth, GA - Groundbreaking on a New Wastewater Treatment Plant that received $17.5 million in funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. - WSAV 3TV: Read More 

02/26/10 Rockville, MD - U.S. Sen. Benjamin L. Cardin (D-Md.), chairman of the Senate Environment and Public Works Water Subcommittee, toured City’s Wastewater Treatment Plant to see how $1.7 Million Stimulus Dollars were spent - Gazette: Read More 

If you get an Error Message from any “Read More” Hyperlink, let me know and I will try to restore the Link - Email: DavidCourtney@earthlink.net or Phone:  (239)340-9371 - www.GeneratorDealerMarketNews.com

To locate City, County and State Purchasing Offices go to my “Tools to Follow the Money” Blog Entry posted September 13, 2009, there you will find a complete Directory of Governmental Bid and Contact Resources.

02/26/10 Charleston, WVA - West Virginia American Water awarded $3.85 Million in ARRA Stimulus Funding for the installation of an Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI) system - Market Watch: Read More 

02/26/10 Gridley, CA - Groundbreaking today for Wastewater Treatment Plant Expansion that is to use $5 Million Stimulus Grant and Loan combination - the Gridley Herald: Read More 

02/24/10 Bedford, OH - Monroe County now eligible for $13.2 million ARRA Economic Development Funds to be used for more efficient Wastewater Pumps - I Stock Analyst: Read More 

02/24/10 Clinton, IA - New Wastewater Treatment Plant Bid came in $18 Million under expected, this project is partly Stimulus Funded - the Clinton Herald: Read More 

02/24/10 Columbia, MO - Boone County receives $360,000 in ARRA Funds to assist 2 Neighborhood Improvement District Sewer Projects - Columbia Daily Tribune: Read More 

02/24/10 Somerset, KY - $380,000 contract awarded to a Danville firm to replace the aging sewerage system at General Burnside Island State Park with a pump station - I Stock Analyst: Read More 

02/24/10 Wythe County, VA - $4.4 million in USDA Rural Development grants and $7.4 million in loans Awarded for improvements to water treatment systems - Big News.BIZ: Read More 

02/23/10 California, Lake Ozark and Wardsville, MO - All 3 Towns receive Rural Clean Water Grant and Loan Combinations for Drinking Water System Improvements - News Tribune: Read More 

02/23/10 Georgetown, DE - Town approves $480,000 ARRA Loan to pay for Water Pump Station Overhaul, Contract awarded to Zober Contracting of Dover - the Daily Times: Read More 

02/23/10 Minneola, FL - $345,000 Stimulus will fund New Sewer Expansion out to the Lake County Correctional facility - Daily Commercial: Read More 

02/21/10 Princeton, KY - Grant Check received for 2 Loans in the amount of $2,753,000 for Sewer Rehab work - the Times Leader: Read More 

02/20/10 Townsend, MT - Work is underway on Sewer Projects funded by the American Recovery Act - Helena Independent Record: Read More 

02/19/10 Fort Kent, ME - USDA Rural Development assisted the community with a Water and Waste Disposal Loan of $531,000 and grant of $2.6 million to replace water and wastewater infrastructure - Bangor Daily News: Read More 

02/19/10 Wilmington, DE - Honeywell is the Contractor for Green Energy and Drinking Water Booster Pumps - Power On: Read More 

If you get an Error Message from any “Read More” Hyperlink, let me know and I will try to restore the Link - Email: DavidCourtney@earthlink.net or Phone:  (239)340-9371 - www.GeneratorDealerMarketNews.com

As you may recall all EPA Stimulus Funded Water and Wastewater Projects were to have Contracts signed or Construction started by February 17, 2010 or awarded Funds were to go back for redistribution. I plan to keep watch on the redistribution of these funds as they may move back to other Water Projects.

Other Agencies have and may in the immediate future fund Water Projects however the bulk were awarded via EPA: Review all 503 EPA Recovery Act Press Release since 02/19/09 

Tool to Follow the Money Tip of the Week - There are 54 Federal “Wastewater” Projects Listed over the last 30 days at FBO.gov: Read FBO Link 

To locate City, County and State Purchasing Offices go to my “Tools to Follow the Money” Blog Entry, there you will find a complete Directory of Governmental Resources.

02/19/10 Agriculture Secretary Vilsak announces American Recovery Act Stimulus Funding for 47 Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Projects Listed in 19 States - Read USDA Press Release for List by State and City 

02/19/10 Franklin County, KY - $900,000 ARRA Grant to help Fund New Wastewater Treatment Plant for the Farmdale Sanitation District - the State Journal: Read More 

02/18/10 Charleston, SC - $10 Million Stimulus Tiger Grant Awarded for City’s Flood Control 140′ Deep Tunnels and 500,000 GPM Pump Stations - WCSC5TV: Read More 

02/18/10 Mercedes, TX - $3.7 Million Grant received for a sewage collection and treatment system upgrade project - I Stock Analyst: Read More 

02/17/10 Collier County, FL - $3.156 million Stimulus grant and a $4.9 million ARRA loan received to improve and expand the wastewater treatment plant and collection system - Naples Daily News: Read More 

02/17/10 Franklin, TN - Work is scheduled to begin in April for Major Reservoir Repairs using $2.5 Million in Stimulus Funds - the Tennessean: Read More 

02/17/10 Shelby, MT - Sewer Improvements partly Stimulus Funded Contract has been awarded however ground must thaw before construction starts - Great Falls Tribune: Read More 

02/17/10 Springfield, MO - DNR Awards the City $3 Million Stimulus Grant and $13 Million Loan Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements - News Leader: Read More 

02/17/10 Springfield, MO - Groundbreaking for Stimulus Funded Ozone Disinfection Improvements at Wastewater Treatment Plant - KSMU Public Radio: Read More 

02/16/10 Aurora, OR - Water Filtration System Funded with Stimulus Money Awarded to Cascade Water Works of Salem - Canby Herald: Read More 

02/16/10 Clark Fork, MT - St. Regis Wastewater Treatment Project is Awarded a DNR Low interest loan for the construction of New Maintenance Facility - Clark Fork Chronicle: Read More 

02/16/10 Fresno, OH - Groundbreaking Ceremony for New$3.4 Million Wastewater Treatment Plant that is partly Stimulus Funded - Coshocton Tribune: Read More 

02/16/10 Parsippany, NJ - Partially ARRA Funded Wastewater Treatment Plant will be open by Christmas 2011 - North Jersey: Read More 

02/15/10 Austin, TX - Work begins on $31.8 Million Stimulus Funded Wastewater Treatment Plant by Chasco Constructors - Austin Business Journal: Read More 

02/13/10 Georgetown, IN - Construction to start Monday on New Wastewater Treatment Plant using $3.5 Million Stimulus - the Evening News and Tribune: Read More 

02/12/10 Columbus, OH - Columbus, Franklin and Lancaster Counties receive Stimulus Funding from second round of ARRA Funds - Columbus Business First: Read More 

02/11/10 Dunn, NC - Time Lines are set to start construction on various phases of New Wastewater System Improvements using Stimulus Funds - the Daily Record: Read More 

If you get an Error Message from any “Read More” Hyperlink, let me know and I will try to restore the Link - Email: DavidCourtney@earthlink.net or Phone:  (239)340-9371 - www.GeneratorDealerMarketNews.com

The Department of Energy Superior Energy Performance Program in conjunction with ASME has recently completed a Standard for performing energy assessments for process heating, compressed air, steam and pumping systems.  The Pumping System Standard (ASME EA-2-2009) should be available by early March 2010. 

A guidance document was also developed to assist the “specialist” during the pump system assessment process.  Said document provides technical background and application details in support of the understanding and application of ASME EA-2-2009, “Energy Assessment for Pumping Systems.”   The guidance document covers topics such as rationale for the technical requirements of the assessment standard, technical guidance, application notes, alternative approaches, tips, techniques, and rules-of-thumb; and example results from fulfilling the requirements of the assessment standard. 

ASME EA-2-2009 provides a standardized framework for conducting an assessment of pumping systems.  A pumping system includes pump(s), driver(s), drives, distribution piping, valves, sealing systems, controls, instrumentation, and end use equipment such as heat exchangers.  Assessments performed  using the requirements set by ASME EA-2-2009 involve:

• Collecting and analyzing system design, operation, energy use, and performance data
• Identifying energy performance improvement opportunities for system optimization. 

These assessments may also include additional information, such as recommendations for improving resource utilization, reducing per unit production costs, reducing life cycle costs, and improving environmental performance of the assessed system(s).

While this “Standard” and companion guideline is a huge step forward in developing some sort of strcture for pumping systems we are still missing the mark, that is a Pump System Standard for the design and specification of pumping systems.

My compliments to the DOE and ASME, lets keep the momentum and mitigate inefficiences at the source, in the design phase.

To locate City, County and State Purchasing Offices go to my “Tools to Follow the Money” Blog Entry, there you will find a complete Directory of Governmental Resources.

02/05/10 Buy America Clause in the American Recovery Act Dispute between the US and Canada settled - Bloomberg Business Week: Read the Results 

02/05/10 Andalusia, AL - $250,000 ARRA DOE Grant received to purchase 10 water pumps at the wastewater treatment plant and central pumping stations - Andalusia Star News: Read More 

02/05/10 Athens County, OH - Construction to begin soon on $820,000 Stimulus Funded Drinking Water System - WSAZ 3 TV: Read More 

02/05/10 Leominster, MA was awarded a $32 million grant and low interest loan package for Drinking Water and Wastewater Projects - Leominster Champion: Read More 

02/05/10 Massachusetts State - Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Briefing on 47 communities and districts receiving ARRA funding with links to State Details - Worcester Business Journal: Read More 

02/05/10 Parowan, UT - Dennett Construction of St. George awarded a sewer and wastewater project, partially funded with ARRA Money - the Spectrum and Daily News: Read More 

02/04/10 Carter County, OK - Received $1 Million Stimulus Award to upgrade outdated Wastewater Lines in Ardmore - KXII 12TV: Read More 

02/04/10 Patrick, SC - Alligator Rural Water & Sewer Co., Inc. is going to receive a $9,381,000 Water and Waste Disposal grant and loan that is being funded through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) - the Cheraw Chronicle: Read More 

02/03/10 Bartlesville, OK - The City is to add Stand-By Generators at all Wastewater Pump Stations - Examiner Enterprise: Read More 

02/03/10 Blowing Rock, NC - $2.2 Million Stimulus Funds awarded for Drinking Water System Project - Citizen-Times: Read More 

02/03/10 Davenport & Clinton, IA - Stimulus Funding in the amount of $9.5 Million for Davenport Sewer Tunnel and $2.5 Million for Clintons New Wastewater Treatment Plant - Quad City Times: Read More 

02/03/10 Diamond Village, IL - to design and construct a new Reverse Osmosis (RO) plant, Funded with ARRA Stimulus Money - Free Press Advocate: Read More 

02/03/10 Ely, NV - Accepted a $340,100 bid from Reck Brothers for the construction of a waste water treatment plant pond lining, an ARRA grant-funded project - the Ely Times: Read More 

02/03/10 Greenport, NY - The Village of Greenport received nearly $4 million in funds from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act for a new water treatment facility - North Fork Vue: Read More 

02/03/10 Roslyn, SD is making improvements to its water and sewer system with assistance from the American Recovery Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Funding through a USDA Rural Development Water and Waste Direct Loan in the amount of $415,000 and a Grant of $873,000. Marshall County Journal: Read More 

02/02/10 Deerfield, MI - Awarded a $700,000 ARRA Grant to go along with a low-interest loan to finance a $1.75 million upgrade of its water treatment plant - the Daily Telegram: Read More 

02/02/10 Louisiana State DEQ announces all ARRA $43 Million Stimulus Funds are under Contract. The contracts are spread across 42 parishes, funding 55 projects. Louisiana DEQ Press Release: Read PDF File w/List of Projects 

02/01/10 EPA - 2010 Drinking Water & Wastewater Budget - This budget invests $3.3 billion to maintain and improve outdated water infrastructure and keep our wastewater and drinking water clean and safe. This is in addition to $6 billion in funding provided to states through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).  Read EPA Press Release 

02/01/10 Long Branch, NJ - Wastewater Treatment plant upgrade contract has been awarded to APS Contracting Inc., Paterson, for $11.72 million. Pumping station improvements will be performed by D&D Utility Contractors, Long Branch, for $882,887. The collection system work has been awarded to P.M. Construction Inc., Hillside, for $3 million - Asbury Park Press: Read More

01/29/10 Ohio - An additional $48.8 million has been obligated to fund 42 water quality improvement projects using U.S. EPA stimulus funding from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) along with loans: Read OHIO EPA PDF List of Recipients 

If you get an Error Message from any “Read More” Hyperlink, let me know and I will try to restore the Link - Email: DavidCourtney@earthlink.net or Phone:  (239)340-9371 - www.GeneratorDealerMarketNews.com

Tools to Follow the Money Tip of the Week - Attend Reverse Tradeshows and Exhibit Tradeshows of your Area Chapters of the National Institute of Governmental Purchasing. A Reverse Tradeshow by NIGP is the most awesome experience I have ever had visiting a Tradeshow. Each Governmental Agency Exhibiting will assist you on how to become their Vendor. Check out this NIGP Directory for Chapters in your Service Area: NIGP Chapter Websites 

Here is an Example by the Oregon Chapter, of their Reverse Tradeshow coming up March 16, 2010. Oregon Public Purchasing Association Reverse Trade Show 

To locate City, County and State Purchasing Offices go to my ” Tools to Follow the Money ” Blog Entry, there you will find a complete Directory of Governmental Resources.

01/29/10 Presidio & Valentine, TX - Presidio received a $12.25 million grant to construct a new wastewater treatment facility, Valentine received a $2.5 million grant to install a wastewater collection and treatment facility - the Alpine Avalanche: Read More 

01/29/10 San Juan County, NM - Contract Awarded to a Phoenix company, Shiya-Strephans Contracting for the $3.2 million sewer line extension project in Kirtland - the Daily Times: Read More 

01/29/10 Beaver Dam, WI - Up-Date on Beaver Dams $20 Million Wastewater Treatment Facility Up-Grade - the Daily Citizen: Read More 

01/29/10 Dinuba, CA - $611,000 Stimulus loan received to install improved motors, pumps, lighting systems and controls to improve the energy efficiency of its wastewater reclamation plant - Yuba Net: Read More 

01/29/10 Westborough, MA - $7.04 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) grants and State Revolving Fund (SRF) financing will be used toward a $64 million upgrade to the Westborough Wastewater Treatment Plant - Community Advocate: Read More 

01/27/10 State of Massachusetts - Governor Patrick and Congressman Neal noted that $185 million in federal recovery funds for water infrastructure improvements will support statewide construction projects worth nearly $800 million, maintaining and creating thousands of jobs across Massachusetts, including $15.1 Million to upgrade the wastewater treatment facility in Sturbridge - the Gov Monitor: Read More 

01/26/10 Homer, IL - Contracts Awarded to Schomburg & Schomburg of Danville in the amount of $2,548,097 for construction of a waste water plant, and to Cross Construction of Urbana in the amount of $7,098,058 for the construction of the collection system, all Stimulus funded - the News Gazette: Read More 

01/26/10 Marlborough, Westborough, MA - $3.7 million in stimulus money for Marlborough and $7 million for Westborough to upgrade their Wastewater Treatment facilities - the Metro West Daily News: Read More 

01/26/10 Maynard, MA - $9.5 million in low-interest loans and $1.2 million in Stimulus grants are to fund Towns Wastewater Treatment Plant Up-Grades - Maynard Beacon Villager via Wicked Local: Read More 

01/25/10 Provincetown & Wellfleet, MA - $21.83 million in total grants for Provincetown with another $6 in grants for Wellfleet to cover Water and Wastewater Projects - Wellfleet/Provincetown Banner via Wicked Local: Read More 

01/25/10 Portland (Jay County), IN - $27,924 ARRA Energy Grant Awarded for solar water heating for a waste water treatment facility - Winchester News Gazette: Read More 

01/25/10 Putnam, CT - $15 million for a massive upgrade of the town’s wastewater plant and the expansion of Putnam’s well field - Norwich Bulletin: Read More 

01/23/10 Charleston, IN - $1.3 Million Stimulus Loan to pay for Sewer Line Extensions to Highview and Lakeview subdivisions - News and Tribune: Read More 

01/23/10 Perquimans County, NC - $3 million ARRA Grant was awarded for improvements to Winfall Water Treatment Plant - the Daily Advance: Read More 

If you get an Error Message from any “Read More” Hyperlink, let me know and I will try to restore the Link - Email: DavidCourtney@earthlink.net or Phone: (239)340-9371 - www.GeneratorDealerMarketNews.com

Tool to Follow the Money Tip of the Week - Onvia Government Analytics: Recovery.org for Business - I noticed Water Projects mentioned.

To locate City, County and State Purchasing Offices below go to my “Tools to Follow the Money” Blog Entry, there you will find a complete Directory of Governmental Resources.

01/22/10 Jemez Pueblo, NM - The Jemez Pueblo Indian Tribe is to use Stimulus Grants and Loan to build a 30 acre Solar Farm. Their plans are to sell the electrical power to finance the construction of New Drinking Water Systems - Native American Times: Read More 

01/22/10 Wheaton, IL - Work is under way on a $16 million, nearly 3-mile wastewater pipeline that is funded entirely through federal stimulus grants and loans the Chicago Tribune: Read More 

01/21/10 Rock County, WI - A $6 Million Jobs Training Stimulus Grant includes training Wastewater Treatment Plant Operators - GazetteXtra: Read More 

01/20/10 Wrightstown, NJ - A $750,000 Defense Department grant will pay for a $500,000 wastewater-management plan to help accommodate new development near Fort Dix - Philadelphia Inquirer: Read More 

01/18/10 Logan, UT - Stimulus Funds to partially cover the installation of a power-generating micro-turbine inside a culinary water line - the Herald Journal: Read More 

01/17/10 Catawba County, NC - $2.7 million water loop in the Blackburn-Plateau area. Half of the Stimulus money is a zero-interest bond and the other half is grant funding. The Hickory Daily Record: Read More 

If you get an Error Message from any “Read More” Hyperlink, let me know and I will try to restore the Link - Email: DavidCourtney@earthlink.net  or Phone: (239)340-9371 - www.GeneratorDealerMarketNews.com

Follow the Money Tip this Week – Federal Bid Opportunities for Pumps, Water & Wastewater Treatment Plants - www.FBO.gov  - Type in Pump, Water or Wastewater for Keyword then hit Search. Some are labeled as Recovery Projects.

To locate every City, County, State and Federal Purchasing Agency mentioned below; refer back to my Blog Section:  Tools to Follow the Money 

01/15/10 Newark, DE - University of Delaware is awarded a $1.1 Million National Science Foundation Research Grant to study Delaware Estuary mud - Udaily: Read More 

01/14/10 Paso Robles, CA - Awarded a contract to the engineering firm Black & Veatch for final design of the city’s wastewater treatment plant upgrade - Paso Robles Press: Read More 

01/14/10 Georgetown, IN - $3.5 Million in Stimulus Funds awarded for new Wastewater Treatment Plant Construction - The News and Tribune: Read More 

01/13/10 New Buffalo, MI - OK is given to proceed on $3.7 Million Stimulus Funded Water Treatment Plant - South Bend Tribune: Read More 

01/12/10 La Salle, IL - Awarded a contract to replace the wastewater treatment plant’s aeration catwalks to La Salle-based Valley Fabrication - News Tribune: Read More 

01/11/10 Corinth, MS - P.F. Moon and Co. of West Point, Ga., was awarded the contract to construct the water treatment plant. The contract to build the water transmission and distribution lines from the treatment plant to Corinth was awarded to Kajacks Contractors of Maumelle, Ark - IStock Analyst: Read More 

01/08/10 Maryville, IL - Over $1.2 Million Stimulus Funds were awarded for Water System Improvements including a booster pump station - The Edwardsville Intelligence: Read More 

01/08/10 Kingston Water District in Shoshone County and the city of Weston in Franklin County each receive $600,000 low interest Stimulus Loans for Drinking Water Projects - Idaho Business Review: Read More 

If you get an Error Message from any Read More Hyperlinks, let me know and I will try to restore the Live Link - Email: DavidCourtney@earthlink.net or Phone: (239)340-9371 – www.GeneratorDealerMarketNews.com

Follow the Money Tip this Week - American Recovery Act Stimulus Awards & Contracts for Pumps & Systems - Type in Pump, Water or Wastewater for Keyword then hit Search at: Stimulus Watch.org

To locate every City, County, State and Federal Purchasing Agency mentioned below; refer back to my Blog Section:  Tools to Follow the Money 

01/08/10 Lorain County, OH - $5 Million in ARRA Stimulus Funds to pay for 37 Miles of new Sewer Lines being installed - The Chronicle Telegram: Read More 

01/08/10 Marianas Islands, Saipan - $2.8 Million in ARRA Stimulus Funds approved for CUC Water and Wastewater Projects - Saipan Tribune: Read More 

01/07/10 Clovis, NM - $1 Million approved for Wastewater Re-use Project moving water from the Treatment Plant to Industrial Uses - Clovis News Journal: Read More 

01/07/10 Newark, DE - University of Delaware receives EPSCoR Grants to research the distribution of PPCPs in Delaware water systems - Udaily: Read More 

01/06/10 Bayonne, NJ - $5.6 million contract to build a 262-foot windmill that will power a sewage pump station awarded to Fai Gon Electrical Contractors - the Jersey Journal: Read More 

01/05/10 Prescott, AZ - Bid Award for Water Improvements and various wastewater improvements to CLM Earthmovers, LLC, in an amount not to exceed $1,313,693.46 – Prescott News: Read More 

01/05/09 Evesham, NJ - $3.5 Million in Stimulus Funds will now allow the Evesham Municipal Utilities Authority will move forward with a much needed sewer system project - The Marlton Telegram: Read More 

01/01/10 Laramie, WY - $1.2 Million in ARRA Stimulus Funds will contribute toward $2.5 Million Damaged Water Line Project - Laramie Boomerang: Read More 

If you get an Error Message from any Read More Hyperlinks, let me know and I will try to restore the Live Link - Email: DavidCourtney@earthlink.net or Phone: (239)340-9371

In a previous blog I made reference to the potential impact of pending environmental regulations.  Now I would like to comment specifically on Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS).  A great deal of money and resources have been focused on curtailing the release of new greenhouse gases, particularly carbon dioxide, into the atmosphere.  The choices are really simple:  emit less carbon dioxide through a combination of conservation, efficiency improvements, nuclear power, and alternative energy, or continue to burn fossil fuels, but somehow capture and subsequently sequester the resulting carbon before it enters the atmosphere. 

As stated in my earlier blog we will all feel the impact of the regulations currently being debated in DC.  Unless you have been in a coma for the past couple of years or on another plant you have been exposed to the debate over CO2 emissions and the various technologies to mitigate same specifically CCS technology.  What will this technology cost, short term and long term and how will this impact the bottom line at the power generator and the end user?  The jury is still out on the actual cost however I would like to address some very valid concerns over the financial impact. 

First I would like to “clear the air” on global warming.  CO2 emission is an international issue therefore corrective action requires worldwide participation (think jet stream).  Successful implementation of a CO2 emissions program can and will only be successful if we have the buy in and full cooperation of every CO2 emitting country in the world.  Has this happened, what was agreed on in Copenhagen?  The simple answer is nothing yet the US continues to push forward with the Climate Change Bill and Cap and Trade to address a debatable global warming issue.   Whether you agree with the current mindset or not, the fact remains that legislation to regulate the emissions of greenhouse gases is presently before Congress, and will likely become law this year, or next.  If you think we are in an economic crunch now wait until our politicians in DC pass the current legislation.  CCS alone will require millions of dollars in upgrades, who is going to pay for the necessary modifications required to meet the proposed emissions standards?  The power utilities will have to raise capital to add the additional equipment and like any other publicly traded company the capital investment will impact their stock value.  By the way, this is assuming the plant can be upgraded many older plants will not be able to meet the new standards.  Now add to the equation the additional power (parasitic load) required to run the CCS process, according to EPRI “There will inevitably be additional costs associated with CCS.  EPRI’s latest estimates suggest that the cost of electricity from new coal plants (IGCC or supercritical PC) designed for capture, compression, transportation and storage of the CO2 will be 40-80% higher than the cost of electricity of a conventional supercritical PC plant..”  I have heard up to 80,000 additional horsepower which will reduce the net MW output of the plant further reducing the plants profit margin.  The power company has no choice but to pass the cost on to the consumer. 

What is CCS and how does it work?   Carbon Capture and Sequestration is a way to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. CCS captures the CO2 emissions from coal power plants and other industrial sites and injects the CO2 into underground porous rock formations in hopes of permanent sequestration.  It complements two other major approaches for greenhouse gas reduction, namely improving energy efficiency and increasing use of non-carbon energy sources.  All three approaches will need to make significant contributions in order to meet the objective of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change that is the stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system.  

There are two primary types of carbon capture as applicable to the power generation industry:

Pre Combustion – This technology is part of what is being pushed as “clean coal.” Some proposed new coal power plants are Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle plants (IGCC) which uses pre-combustion carbon capture. Pre-combustion CO2 capture relates to gasification plants, where fuel is converted into gaseous components by applying heat under pressure in the presence of steam. CO2 can be captured from the synthesis gas that emerges from the coal gasification reactor before it is mixed with air in a combustion turbine. The most common configuration involves gasification with air or oxygen.

Post combustion – attempts to capture CO2 after the fuel has already been burned. This includes the carbon scrubbers systems and could potentially be applied to all existing power plants. Pulverized coal plants, which comprise 99 percent of all coal-fired power plants in the United States, burn coal in air to raise steam. CO2 is exhausted in the flue gas at atmospheric pressure and a concentration of 10-15 volume percent

Compression, transportation and sequestration are the other three components of the CCS process:

• Compression - CO2 compressors represent a large fraction of the enormous capital and operating cost penalties of any CCS system. The CO2 compressor power required for a pulverized coal power plant with an amine-based capture is approximately 8-12% of the plant rating, depending on conditions.

• Transportation - Pipelines are the most common method for transporting large quantities of CO2 over long distances. CO2 pipelines are operated at ambient temperature and high pressure, with primary compressor stations located where the CO2 is injected and booster compressors located as needed further along the pipeline.  Some facilities transport the CO2 by ship for injection in depleted off shore oil wells

• Sequestration - Geologic sequestration is a form of direct sequestration where CO2 is stored in underground formations, such as depleted oil and gas reservoirs, unmineable coal seams, and saline reservoirs.

  Both the coal industry and the Obama administration endorse CCS. Obama supported $3.5 billion for CCS of the $790 billion Stimulus Package and has made CCS a cornerstone of renewable energy policy.

Facts:

• The CCS process is energy intensive itself – adding upwards of a 30% energy penalty to the production of electric power. Thus, CCS perversely compounds the carbon problem it is intended to correct.  

• Plants that would readily support CCS by converting coal into gaseous form to allow capture of the CO2 emissions before gas is burned are very costly.  

• No CCS plants currently exist on a large commercial scale.

• It’s expensive – conventional coal-fired plants are not configured to support the CCS solution.

Concerns: 

If the climate bill is made law and carbon sequestration is implemented, the U.S. will have little further incentive to invest in renewable sources of energy as well as nuclear and so we stand to lose a unique opportunity to rebuild the U.S. economy on a sustainable basis and revive America’s standing as an industrial leader in the world.   The cost of electricity production is always higher when applying carbon dioxide capture and sequestration (CCS) technologies. However, CO2 certificate prices are expected to increase over the next decades, so CO2 avoidance will become more favorable. According to some industry insiders compared to today’s level, the costs of electricity could be 20-150% higher due to the costs for emission allowances. 

Our future is in the hands of politicians, do they have our best interest in mind?  That is for you to decide, based on their past rack record I have my doubts.  Failure to take all the facts into consideration rather than making political decisions based on questionable information could be the economic undoing for us all.