Seeking Alpha Utility Stocks $500 million for the repowering the Russell Station power plant using clean coal technologies. The company estimates that these efficiency investments could result in CO2 reductions of close to 1 million tons annually, the equivalent of taking 175,000 cars off the road. $500 Million ??? For what ? It was only $200,000 to $400,000 in October, 2003 ? "RG&E reports that the plant (Russell Station) needs at least $200,000 of upgrades-- perhaps even as much as $400,000--to meet "clean air" standards."============================================================
Serious concerns about the closing of Russell Station As a Greece, NY, businessman, I am very concerned, for all of the reasons listed below, about what will happen to the power available to run my business if Russell Station is closed. As you are well aware, last summer (2003) New York State had a major blackout and as a former employee of the Rochester Gas and Electric I have been aware of grid deficencies for at least the last 20 years. Here are two recent articles in the news about Russell Station: Potential Area Energy Woes Jane Flasch WOKR-TV NewsSource 13 02/20/02 RG&E reports that the plant (Russell Station) needs at least $200,000 of upgrades-- perhaps even as much as $400,000--to meet "clean air" standards. RG&E plans $75M upgrade By Todd Grady Staff Writer (October 1, 2003) — Rochester Gas and Electric Corp. on Tuesday asked the state Public Service Commission to approve a $75 million project to improve and expand its electricity delivery system. The project, which would mostly upgrade substations and power lines, is needed to deal with the power void when RG&E in 2007 closes its 55-year-old coal-fired Russell Station plant on the Lake Ontario shore in Greece. Only 400,000 to keep Russell Station going, yet $75 MILLION to upgrade because of its loss ? The Grid is in trouble and closing Russell would mean 270 less megawatts being generated, as well as over 100 jobs lost - not to mention what will happen to the tax base in Greece with this major tax payer gone. The Ginna Nuclear Power Plant is old by nuclear standards and could go down for good. Another 500 megawatts lost. When RG&E closed BeeBee Station in Rochester another 100 mw was lost, and RG&E has shut down many of their hyrdro stations as well. There is probably more and these equations just don't add up. RG&E will say Russell is too old, which is not accurate - everything in Russell station can be repaired or replaced and most of the plant has been kept up to date. Closing Russell Station will have a major detrimental impact on the greater Rochester area and it's economy. Dave Kaspersin BTY: RG$E will say Russell is too old. Not true. Everything in Russell can be repaired or replaced. And as "Half Lives" go Ginna is older :)
And this is the Corporate Crap answer I received from the RG$E. (Which probably came from Enron East) May 20, 2004 Mr. Dave Kaspersin President Dynamic Recording Studio 2844-46 Dewey Avenue Rochester NY 14616-4630 Dear Mr. Kaspersin: Thank you for your email dated April 18, 2004 sharing comments and concerns relative to RG&E's Rochester Transmission Project ("RTP") and the closing of Russell Station. This letter, prepared on behalf of Jim Laurito - President of RG&E, is in response to that communication. Since 2003, RG&E has been actively providing information on the RTP and soliciting comments. In fact, RG&E representatives have made numerous presentations on the RTP to local government officials, town boards, community groups, and neighborhood associations in Monroe and Wayne counties. We have also hosted public meetings for interested citizens to ask questions. Those presentations and public meetings were intended to bring forth the types of issues you expressed and to provide a forum for their discussion. I hope to address below the concerns expressed in your email and letter: Concern about available power supply and grid deficiencies - Russell Station must close, but the RTP will provide better access to other sources of competitively priced energy. While RG&E recognizes the significant impact of the August 2003 blackout, it is improtant to note that the power delivery system (or "grid") operated properly, continuing to transport energy throughout the event. Furthermore, the diligent work of our Energy Control Center allowed for safe and effective implementation of load shedding procedures as mandated by the New York Independent System Operator, and RG&E was able to continue to supply power to vital infrastructure and critical care facilities. The RG&E transmission and distribution system is certainly inter-connected with the grid, and Russell Station is one source that feeds into that system. Even though Russell Station must close, the RTP will provide better access to other sources of competitively priced energy. RG&E prepared and submitted its application to the New York State Public Service Commission (NYS PSC) as part of the Article VII process, a process set forth in New York State Public Service Law. The application describes the need and proposed methods for accomplishing RTP work. The NYS PSC reviews the proposed project for public need and environmental compatibility. Concurrently, the New York State Independent System Operator reviews the project for electric need and grid compatibility. Concern about cost effectiveness of RTP versus upgrading Russell Station - RG&E concludes the $75 million RTP to be the more economic alternative. Tougher New York State air regulations will make it uneconomic and pro- hibitive for RG&E to continue to operate the plant after 2007. It is not economically feasible to upgrade Russell Station so that it could meet the new air regulations. While such modifications to Russell Station would cost hundreds of millions of dollars, the RTP is estimated to cost approxi- mately $75 million. The effective air emission standards can be viewed at the following sites: http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/regs/237.htm and http://www.dec.state.ny.us/website/regs/238.htm. Concern about impacts of Russell closure - RG&E will continue to provide reliable, essential electric service to its customers. With the closure of Russell Station, customers will not see any change in their delivery service. In fact, the RTP will enhance access to competitive sources of energy. RG&E will continue to provide reliable, essential electric service to its customers. As you probably know, RG&E is selling its Ginna Nuclear Station in accord- ance with New York state public policy regarding utility restructuring, in order to focus on providing safe and reliable energy delivery services. Accordingly, the Ginna Nuclear Power Plant will be sole to Constellation Energy. However, a long-term power purchase agreement between RG&E and Constellation will ensure that RG&E's customers continue to benefit from Ginna's competitive and dependable power. For your information, enclosed you will find Key Facts and Frequently Asked Questions related to the RTP. RG&E is working diligently to minimize disruptions and inconveniences that might be caused by our activities. We intend to work cooperatively with the PSC and other interested parties on this important project to ensure reliable and essential service is maintained in the Rochester area. Please feel to call me at (585) 771-2145 or the RTP Project Manager, Kurt Doern, at (585) 724-8672 with any other questions or concerns. Sincerely, B. Yvonne Selbig Community Coordinator - Generation Enclosures xc: R. Bergin K. Doern J. Draghi, Esq. (LLGM)
Update 08/14/03 Just 9 Seconds The man leading the investigation into the worst blackout in history says, "we will not cover up anything." Large parts of the U.S. and areas of Canada were plunged into darkness in nine seconds, and some are still without power today.Superpower With a Third World Grid
Amid the blame game, former Energy Secretary Bill Richardson who described the United States as a "superpower with a Third World electricity grid" argued the problem was due to an antiquated infrastructure. "We have a huge demand for electricity with computers, technology, more people,but we have not fulfilled the infrastructure needed to deal with that new demand,"
he told Good Morning America today. "In other words, we don't build new transmission lines. The American people in many regions don't want them in their backyard." The problem, according to Richardson, was essentially because almost the entire eastern seaboard was run by the Niagara-Mohawk grid, which, "has been overloaded for years." Power company officials and government regulators have tried to find ways to beef up the Northeast power grid for some time. Experts say the Northeast has been short of power supplies needed for hot days and short of transmission lines to move that power where it's needed. "The power outages that we're seeing would suggest that something went wrong up in New York state somewhere from Syracuse north to the Canadian border," energy writer Bill Paul told ABCNEWS. "And what happened was a bunch of safety procedures went into play and the lines, the power, started to be cut off what you would call down stage. So you had an impact all the way down into Manhattan. You had an impact all the way out west into Cleveland and Detroit."
Click For More on Voltage Problems.
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Feds Find Power Manipulation in Calif.
Enron East/RGS/RG$E Give Ginna Station Away !