- Is Idaho Power going to build a coal-fired plant in Idaho?
- Does Idaho Power buy any coal-generated energy?
- What are greenhouse gas emissions?
- What greenhouse gas is produced from coal-fired facilities?
- Does Idaho Power monitor emissions from its coal and natural gas-fired plants?
1. Is Idaho Power going to build a coal-fired plant in Idaho? No. While the western coal supply is sufficient to fuel Idaho Power’s existing plants and any new coal resources for many years to come, the State of Idaho has chosen not to opt into the Clean Air Mercury Rule (CAMR). This means any new coal-fired plant would have to be sited in a neighboring state or occur through expansion at one of the existing plants outside the state of Idaho.
2. Does Idaho Power buy any coal-generated energy? Yes. Idaho Power is a net importer of electricity, meaning that, in addition to what we produce ourselves, we also need to buy electricity from others to meet our customers’ needs. That electricity is produced by hydropower, coal, natural gas, wind and other kinds of energy plants, predominantly in the western United States and Canada.
3. What are greenhouse gas emissions? Greenhouse gases are components of the atmosphere that contribute to the Greenhouse effect. Some greenhouse gases occur naturally in the atmosphere, while others result from human activities. Naturally occurring greenhouse gases include water vapor, carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, and refrigerants. Certain human activities like burning fossil fuels and other materials add to the levels of most of these naturally occurring gases.
4. What greenhouse gas is produced from coal-fired facilities?
Carbon dioxide (CO2) is the most common greenhouse gas emitted from coal-fired power plants. CO2 is produced from the combination of the carbon atom found in coal and oxygen during the combustion process. CO2 is a colorless, odorless, incombustible gas formed during respiration, combustion, and organic decomposition and is used in food refrigeration, carbonated beverages, inert atmospheres, fire extinguishers, and aerosols.5. Does Idaho Power monitor emissions from its coal and natural gas-fired plants? The coal and natural gas-fired facilities have continuous emission monitors installed that monitor and record regulated emissions.
