Chris Howard of Walla Walla took unpaid time off work to tell Port of Walla Walla commissioners meeting in Burbank that he opposes a plan by Battelle scientists to conduct carbon sequestration experiments near the Boise paper mill.
Howard and many others in the community oppose the demonstration project at the Wallula Gap Business Park, which would inject carbon dioxide into a deep well, because they fear it will pave the way for a coal power plant in the area.
The researchers now want the port to allow them to inject 1,000 to 3,000 tons of carbon dioxide deep into the basalt rock layer under the site.
The experiments will help the team verify laboratory tests that show basalt can help mineralize carbon dioxide into calcium carbonate, said Pete McGrail, a scientist who's leading the project.
"This study is not about the power plant," McGrail said. He added that the pilot study would not be sufficient to meet requirements of the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council, which coordinates the evaluation and licensing process for major energy facilities in the state.
But many Walla Walla County residents are afraid those pushing for the plant will tout the sequestration experiment as proof that the plant would be able to take care of its emissions and not address other risks.
There also are liability issues the port needs to sort out. So the commissioners directed port staff to gather more information, including results of the seismic survey, before considering a decision on the pilot project.
"(There is) too much unknown here," said Commissioner Mike Fredrickson.
Last year, Wallula Energy Resource Co. asked EFSEC for a potential site review for a 915-megawatt coal gasification electric generating plant near Wallula.
The review is a cursory look at the site to see if any substantial environmental issues could pop up, said Allen Fiksdal. It's not a construction permit, he said.
Walla Walla resident Norm Osterman, a member of a citizens group calling itself the Coal Plant Working Group, said there are reports the company will make a formal request for the plant siting within four months of the study. "There's no such thing as clean coal," he said.
Howard said the study might generate some useful information, but there's no guarantee the test results won't be used to justify putting a coal plant on the port property.
Doug Morton, another Walla Walla resident, asked, "Why not do the study on the Hanford Reservation where existing wells exist? Why do it in Walla Walla, if not to justify this particular project?"
Grant Pfeifer, director of the Eastern Regional Office of the Department of Ecology, said plant backers may use the test results to firm up their case, but he said a coal plant would not be permitted if it doesn't meet state standards.
Jim Kuntz, the port's executive director, said the scientific knowledge to be gained from the test would help offset carbon emissions from existing and new industries coming to the business park.
Kuntz said the port's option with Wallula Energy Resource Co. to buy land at the business park has expired.
Battelle scientist McGrail said he'll give a preliminary report to port officials in a week. Battelle already has spent about $750,000 on preliminary research on the port site.
If the port rejects the testing proposal, the researchers don't have an alternative site, McGrail said. But he said, "We believe we can provide satisfactory answers for the port."
Meanwhile, members of the Coal Plant Working Group are happy the port commissioners have asked for more information, Osterman said. "We are closely watching the situation."
w Pratik Joshi: 582-1541; pjoshi@tricityherald.com; Business Beat blog at www.tri cityherald.com
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