Letter re: Trapp, 2002 Posted: July 23, 2006
To the Editor:
I am writing to criticize the state's decision to permit burning up to 4000 tons/day of East Coast trash for power in Clark County. It doesn't make sense for Kentucky to import garbage to replace coal.
The Federal Department of Energy (DOE), Senator McConnel and Governor Patton have promoted the Trapp 'Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle' (IGCC) plant as a unique demonstration of clean coal technologies, but IGCC plants already exist in the US and around the world.
The significant Clean Coal Technology research on offer at Trapp is the garbage. How toxic is the slag, the exhaust gases, and the water used to cool & clean the garbage vapors and slag? Those of us upwind and downstream are going to find out where all those toxics go the hard way, for 20+ years.
State law KRS 224 says that if more than 15% of a plant's fuel comes from garbage it's a waste-to-energy plant that needs a local permit. The Trapp facility will use between 50% and 80% garbage. The state should wait for a local permit from Clark County before issuing the state permit for the waste-to-energy facility.
Governor Patton should read KRS 224.010(20) and see that the Trapp facility is a waste-to-energy plant that requires a local permit from Clark County. He should read the writing on the wall: imported trash is a weak plank in anyone's political platform. It will not help the Governor in his future pursuits.
Will Herrick
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