Even In Hydro-Rich Northwest, Coal Still Major Power Source
BY APRIL BAER – April 13, 2009
Today we begin a series of special reports on energy in the Pacific Northwest: where we get our power from now and what kind of energy we’re likely to switch to in the future.
When you flip the switch, where does your power come from?
And what will power Northwest homes and businesses in the future?
We’re asking these questions and more for our special series The Switch.
A Few Coal Facts : >
> Contribution to current Oregon energy mix — 41%
> Cost per kwh currently — Ranges from $ 0.012 to $ 0.037 This assumes a medium- to long-haul from coal mine to coal-fired power plant. This cost does not reflect the carbon costs that may become a reality within the next few years. Depending on what value regulators assign for coal burning, this could raise the cost per kwh considerably.
> Is this power source renewable? — No
> Is it intermittent or baseload power? — Baseload
The switch is all about reducing the greenhouse gases that cause climate change, and so we’re kicking off our series with coal — a power source that comes from fossils.
While there’s lots of coal on the planet now, like other fossil fuels, coal is not renewable — when it’s gone, it’s gone.
Coal is also relatively cheap, and it’s abundant — so it won’t be easy to kick the coal habit.
One of the most common misconceptions about Oregon’s power is that it’s practically all nice clean hydroelectric from the Columbia River. But the reality is this.
To turn on their lights, Pacific Northwesterners use about forty percent coal — and about the same amount of hydro, plus a mosaic of other power sources making up the last twenty percent.
