The Politics Of Clean Energy, Arkansas Trout Fishing Vs Missouri Hydro-power

[Chief Grey Bear]

ya know id think different and probably would change my view if powersite was a PRIMARY power source. Powersite only generates around 2% of the total Empire demand. (as per the joplin globe article)

a 100 year old dam that is a supplemental (2%) power source isnt much a "green" power. Empire uses that 2% to just maximize their profits, they arent concerned about being green. they are concerned about profits dont let Empire fool you into thinking they are green.

I would hardly claim that it is to just "maximize their profits". At the time it was built, it was one of the main sources of power generation. As the area has gown so has Empire and the significance of Powersite has deminished.

The following is a look at some of their history:

Construction of the Ozark Beach Dam began in 1911 in Taney County, Missouri. Two years later, the 1,300 foot long dam was complete. The dam forms Lake Taneycomo, a crystal clear lake stretching 22 miles throughout the picturesque Ozarks. Today, Ozark Beach Hydroelectric Plant supplies Empire with 16 megawatts of power and the Taney County area with a beautiful recreational area. Empire Park, located just above the dam, is a park maintained by Empire District. In 1999, the park was honored with the annual Advisory Council on Disabilities Community Award for the refurbishment and addition of handicap accessible facilities.

After the war, customer growth was high throughout the Empire District service territory. Empire began work to increase capacity at the Riverton Generating Station. The additions over the next several years at Riverton generated additional capacity to meet the future growth of the region. Construction began in 1947 to install a 30-megawatt steam turbine named Riverton 7. It officially began producing power in March 1950. Four years later, an additional 44-megawatt steam turbine, Riverton 8, came online. The construction of Riverton 7 & 8 grew capacity of the power plant to 150-megawatts.

By the mid-60’s, the energy needs of this growing and diverse economic region would once gain exceed the capacity of existing generation facilities. On September 10, 1967, just north of Asbury, Missouri, ground was broken for a 200-megawatt, coal-fired power plant. The $26 million Asbury Generating Station was put into operation in June 1970.

Asbury was designed as a “mine-mouth” plant to burn coal from the Empire Mine located just north of the plant. Total plant capacity is approximately 210 megawatts. Unit One is rated at 193 megawatts. Unit Two, completed in 1986, generates 17 megawatts of energy from the excess boiler capacity of Unit One. In 1990, the plant was converted to use a blend of low-sulfur Wyoming coal and native coal to comply with new clean air standards. Further environmental upgrades were instituted in 2007 with the investment in a $37 million selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system to the plant to further reduce nitrogen oxide (NOX) emissions.

As the demand for energy has grown, Empire has met the need with additional building projects and purchase power agreements. In 1978, Empire added the first of two 90-megawatt combustion turbine peaking units at the Empire Energy Center near LaRussell, Missouri, approximately 20 miles east of Joplin. An opportunity to purchase 12 percent, or 80 megawatts, of the 650-megawatt Iatan Power Plant, near Kansas City, allowed Empire to delay the addition of a second 90-megawatt unit at the Empire Energy Center until 1981. Originally these peaking units utilized only fuel oil for combustion, but were converted to natural gas use in 1994.

In 1993, Empire announced the addition of the State Line Power Plant located west of Joplin. A 98-megawatt combustion turbine began providing energy to Empire’s customers in May 1995. Two years later, a second 150-megawatt turbine was added to State Line. Plans were announced in 1998 for construction of an additional 350 megawatts of power generation at the plant. A new 150-megawatt combustion turbine, combined with the existing 150-megawatt unit, generate enough waste heat to produce an additional 200 megawatts of steam-powered, combined-cycle energy. The combined cycle unit began providing energy to Empire customers in June 2001. Westar Generating, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Western Resources, is a partner in the State Line combined cycle. Empire owns 60 percent and serves as the plant operator. Total plant capacity is approximately 596 megawatts, making it Empire’s highest megawatt output plant. All three combustion turbines at State Line Power Plant use natural gas.

Growth continued in Empire’s service territory, and by 2002 it was necessary to add two additional natural gas-fired peaking units at Empire Energy Center. Ground was broken on this additional capacity in July 2002, and the units became operational in April 2003. Both units added 50-megawatts of low cost, efficient power to Empire’s system.

By 2004 Empire was searching for ways to invest in renewable energy for customers. In December 2004, Empire announced a 20-year contract with PPM Energy (now Iberdrola) to receive all energy generated at the 150-megawatt Elk River Windfarm, located in Butler County, Kansas. The first energy was received from Elk River on October 17, 2005.

The success of the agreement with PPM Energy led Empire to sign a second purchase power agreement with Horizon Wind Energy. Ground was broken on the Meridian Way Wind Farm in April 2008. Meridian Way is a 201-megawatt wind farm located eight miles south of Concordia, Kansas. Empire anticipates 105 megawatts of energy will be put on the grid from the contract. Westar Energy will purchase the additional 96 megawatts of energy from this project. This project became operational in December 2008.

Although the purchase power agreements with both Elk River Windfarm and Meridian Way Wind Farm provide Empire with additional energy, it was necessary to build more baseload generation as customer demand rose. In 2006, Empire announced two new construction projects for coal-fired plants. Empire will own 12 percent, or approximately 100 megawatts, of Iatan II. The plant will be located with Iatan I, near Kansas City. Plum Point Energy Station will be located near Osceola, Arkansas. Empire has signed a contract to be a part owner of the plant and also entered into a purchased power agreement for additional energy produced by the plant. Both plants will be highly-efficient and utilize the latest in environmental technology. They are currently under construction, with an estimated date of completion in 2010.

In addition to construction projects for brand-new plants, Empire also increased capacity at existing facilities. In April 2007, a new natural gas-fired turbine began producing energy at the Riverton Power Plant. The new turbine added 148 megawatts of capacity to Riverton. Construction on the new turbine began in 2005 with the majority of construction completed during 2006. Today, the Riverton Plant is still in operation, generating 286 megawatts of electricity and is one of the oldest operational power plants in the United States.

Empire also provides both water and natural gas service to customers in Missouri. Empire Water Company was created in 1926 when Empire purchased the Lawrence County Water, Light, and Cold Storage Company. The company served the electric and water needs of Aurora, Missouri. Currently the water company meets the water needs of approximately 4,500 customers in Aurora, Marionville, and Verona, Missouri.

In 2006, Empire acquired natural gas distribution rights from Aquila, Inc. This acquisition created The Empire District Gas Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Empire District Electric Company. Empire District Gas serves the natural gas needs of approximately 48,000 customers in 44 communities in northwest, north central, and west central Missouri.

[McManus]

Will Missouri Outfitters be hurt by this?

[jeff]

What does this have to do with the President? Just sounds like another guy that wants to blame all of the ills of the world on Obama.

[ozark trout fisher]

What does this have to do with the President? Just sounds like another guy that wants to blame all of the ills of the world on Obama.

That is exactly what it is. This has absolutely nothing to do with Obama. A lot of folks here don't like Obama, so they will blame him for anything, justly or not.

[NoLuck]

I don't think Phil is pointing at the POTUS in particular. I believe that he is referencing politicians in general. I have yet to see an honest politician. Bottom line is that the tourism dollar is probably more of a tax cow than the energy created by the dam.

[Chief Grey Bear]

I don't think Phil is pointing at the POTUS in particular. I believe that he is referencing politicians in general.

"Congressman Roy Blunt's office is now involved, The Globe has brought it to the public's attention, only one question yet remains:

Rhetoric or reality, which shall it be Mr. President?"

Naaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwww, he wasn't pointing his finger at the President. Of course the same question could be asked of Phil. Though it need not be, seeing how he as answered it many times.

[taxidermist]

Powersites only purpose is electricity.

The rest of the White River dams were built first for flood control, then secondly for a power source.

The cold water killed most fo the fish below the dams.

All this is simply and its fact, right.

Now we also know that tourisum is huge and trout produce tourist right????

The COE put it in writing that they will maintain the minum flow the river would produce for that time of year and this should allow the trout to do well.

That was a long before O2 studies and long before all the tree in the drainage basins were cleared, This is trees way up the creeks in the white river drainage which allowed for cooler cleaner waters entering the lakes. and more water in fact.

Back in those days Crooked creek did not dry up near Flippin and go underground.

Boone County Arkansas Bear Creek was still cold at the Hwy 14 bridge. Matter of fact back when Devito built his trout farm, that spring ran year round and flowed extremly well. and theother springs along bear creek flowed well enough all summer that we caught trout the whole length for many years after a large flood. What is now classified as Denning Creek also flowed the year around, thid creek flows behind the old Castle Rock Station at Bear Creek Springs and the AR hwy dept had to cross the creek to quarry limestone.

My grandparents owned the station on the 1940s and 1950s. My grandmother sister and husband owned the quarry and leased it to the Ar HWy dept.

Since I started fishing in the mid 1960's I have seen Bear Creek change, Crooked Crrek change and even Table Rock and Bull Shoals change, the water is warmer be a good bit and in the summer it is not nearly as clear as it use to be.

My point is the COE had to replace the warm water fish with something and trout were the choice...

Isaw the guy from Empire Elct. do his presentation and to the people who dont know much about the lakes, the drop pf water to produce electricity sounds impressive.

Be raising Bull Shoals five feet for the min flow that has been set, it at current pwoer pool the Powersite dam can still produce the current max rate of electricity. five feet on Bull does not back all the way up top the Powerstie dam.

This bogus BS is Empires way of getting their hands on extra money without any loss producing more profit.

While the White rive below Bull Shoals suffers trout loss, habitat loss during extreme low water as we have had this last two months.

It all amounts who grease the Congressmen and senetors the best. All the crap is twisted, none of the facts as I see it mpire said "OH, hell AG&FC is getting something we need to get something.

So let's stress the Best put and take fishery for trout and kill some great browns all for the BS and playing GOD.

[Wayne SW/MO]

I think many of you are misreading the Obama issue. The point is, whether he had anything to do with the initial plan or not, there is a new plan according to the president. So is he going to push congress to rethink this, or let it slide in favor of a political perk to the Arkansas delegation?

I'm still puzzled by It all, how is it going to significantly increase tourism? The fish aren't native and the fishery is decades old, why would people suddenly flock to it because of an increased flow? Its still in the middle of no where and doesn't necessarily outshine other destinations in other parts of the country.