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Natural Gas Power Plants:
Public Hearing TONIGHT!
 Existing natural gas power plant. Image: www.dearsusquehanna.blogspot.com
Public Hearing
The Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) is hosting a public hearing for a proposed Natural Gas Power Plant to be located in Clinton Township, Lycoming County. DEP invites residents' concerns and comments during a question and answer session at 630 and a public testimony session at 8pm.
January 3rd, 6:30 pm
Clinton Township Volunteer Fire Co.
2311 Route 54 Highway
Montgomery, Pa. 17752
The Basics
In Pennsylvania there is a push to build new power plants to generate electricity from shale gas. Natural gas-fired power plants are large, industrial facilities that are permitted to emit many tons of harmful air pollutants that are known to cause cancer, neurological damage, and respiratory diseases.
Potential Health Impacts
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), some VOCs have been linked to elevated levels of cancer and neurological health issues.
Nitrous Oxides (NOx): At low levels NOx can cause eye, nose, throat and lung irritation, coughing and shortness of breath. NOx also forms ground-level ozone, which has been linked to asthma, other respiratory conditions, and several types of cancer.
Particulate Matter (PM): According to the US EPA, PM has been linked with airway irritation, difficulty breathing, decreased lung function, nonfatal heart attacks and premature death.
Climate Concerns of Shale Gas
Natural Gas Power Plants will create increased demand for shale gas drilling, processing and transmission. The overall climate change footprint of shale gas is at least 20% greater and potentially twice as great as coal in the twenty year timeframe. Natural gas is mostly methane and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change says that methane is 72 times more potent a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide over a twenty-year time period. The gas industry leaks anywhere from 3 ½ to 8 % of the gas it produces and is the largest human-made source of methane emissions globally.
What is the Demand for Natural Gas Power Plants?
Energy created from these plants typically goes into the regional electric grid called PJM, which provides electricity to 51 million residents in 13 states and the District of Columbia. Demand for energy in this grid dropped by 2.5% between the last years on record (2008-2009), which shows that there is no increase in demand for electricity and therefore no real need for additional power plants.
Moxie Energy LLC has proposed to construct and operate a natural gas-fired combined-cycle power plant for Clinton Township, Lycoming County. The plant would produce 936 MW of electricity to send to regional electricity grids. The Department of Environmental Protection (PA DEP) intends to issue an Air Quality permit for this plant, but scheduled a public hearing in response to local concerns and requests for a hearing.
Points about the Power Plant to Consider Making during Meeting or Testimony
1. Is there demand for electricity that warrants the construction of this power plant?
2. How does DEP plan to monitor the cumulative air impacts from increased shale gas production
created by this power plant?
3. Will the company propose additional equipment to this plant or in the area in the future?
4. Will DEP require more stringent monitoring, record-keeping, and reporting requirements than proposed?
Structure of the Meeting and Hearing
Staff from DEP's Air Quality Program will explain the permit process and applicable regulations, and Moxie Patriot
officials will discuss the project. These presentations will be followed by a question and answer session with residents.
At 8:00 p.m. residents will have the opportunity to present oral testimony about the proposed Air Quality Plan
Approval application. Citizens will have a maximum of five minutes each to present testimony. Written testimony of
any length also will be accepted. The testimony will be recorded by a court reporter and transcribed into a written
document. DEP will respond in writing to all relevant testimony provided during the public hearing.
If you can't make the hearing, you can also submit three copies of your comments to DEP by 5PM on Monday,
January 14, 2013. Send to: Muhammad Zaman, Environmental Program Manager, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Air Quality Program, 208 West Third St., Suite 101, Williamsport, Pa. 17701.
Please sign up ahead of time by calling or e-mailing Matt Walker at 215-567-4004 (ext. 121) or mwalker@cleanair.org. Speakers can also sign up the night of the hearing.
Points about Giving Testimony
1. Each person has a 5 minute limit. You can read off a paper or speak from your mind
2. Focus your testimony on using your strengths: tell your own personal story in your own
voice, but always relate your points back to this power plant
3. You can oppose or support the permit, or support it with conditions that protect public health
4. Use your experiences and local knowledge
5. Don't worry about legal or technical arguments unless you have experience with this
6. Don't think that anything is too simple or obvious to say
7. Describe your family, your history living in or visiting the area, observations or concerns
8. Use specific examples when possible (concerns about impact on family and community)
9. Suggest specific changes you would like to see to parts of the proposal where you have concerns
Please contact Clean Air Council for more information about air pollutants and potential health impacts from natural gas operations. Contact Matt Walker at 215-567-4004 ext. 121 or mwalker@cleanair.org.
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