Difference between revisions of "New Jersey and coal"

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==Major coal mines==
 
==Major coal mines==
 
There are no coal mines in New Jersey.<ref>[http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/coal/page/acr/table9.html Major U.S. Coal Mines], Energy Information Administration, accessed June 2008.</ref>
 
There are no coal mines in New Jersey.<ref>[http://www.eia.doe.gov/cneaf/coal/page/acr/table9.html Major U.S. Coal Mines], Energy Information Administration, accessed June 2008.</ref>
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==Spending on Coal Imports==
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In May 2010, the [[Union of Concerned Scientists]] released a report titled [[U.S. coal imports|''Burning Coal, Burning Cash: Ranking the States that Import the Most Coal'']].<ref name="deyfre">Jeff Deyette and Barbara Freese, [http://www.ucsusa.org/assets/documents/clean_energy/Burning-Coal-Burning-Cash_full-report.pdf "Burning coal, burning cash: Ranking the states that import the most coal",] Union of Concerned Scientists, May 18, 2010.</ref> The report found that New Jersey ranks seventh in a list state-by-state spending on international coal imports in 2008, with a total of $92.9 million spent on international coal .<ref name="deyfre"/> According to the report, [[Indonesia and coal|Indonesia]] was the largest international source of coal burned in the northeastern state, with $64.7 million worth of coal purchased from the country.<ref name="deyfre"/>  [[Venezuela and coal| Venezuela]] ($28.3 million) was another source of coal.<ref name="deyfre"/>
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However, only 26.8 percent of the $347 million spent on coal for New Jersey's power plants was for international imports in 2008.<ref name="deyfre"/> The remaining amount was spent on coal from [[Pennsylvania and coal|Pennsylvania]] ($92 million), [[Virginia and coal|Virginia]] ($77 million), [[West Virginia and coal|West Virginia]] ($74 million), [[Alabama and coal|Alabama]] ($6 million), and [[Wyoming and coal|Wyoming]] ($5 million).<ref name="deyfre"/>
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In 2008, sixteen U.S. states imported 25.4 million tons of coal from outside the country at the cost of $1.8 billion, an amount the equivalent of 1,700 barges over the course of a year, or over four per day.<ref name="deyfre"/> These imports amounted to three percent of the coal burned in the U.S. for electricity.<ref name="deyfre"/> The report noted that while coal imports into the U.S. have tripled over a ten year period ending in 2008, the country exports more coal than it imports.<ref name="deyfre"/> [[Alabama and coal|Alabama]] (with $489 million) ranks number one for state-by-state spending on international coal imports, followed by [[Florida and coal|Florida]] (with $307 million).<ref name="deyfre"/>
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Coal is the source of 14.1 percent of the state's power.<ref name="deyfre"/> The majority of New Jersey's electricity comes from nuclear (50.3 percent) and natural gas (32.5 percent).<ref name="deyfre"/> While coal accounts for only a small percentage of the Garden State's electricity generation, the report notes that "retail customers buy 26 percent more power than New Jersey generates. That means the state imports significant amounts of electricity— some likely produced from coal."
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The UCS report ranked states dependence on coal by six categories. Of the six categories, New Jersey was in the top ten for only this one category ('Spending on International Coal Imports').<ref name="deyfre"/> The state otherwise ranked as follows:
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*'''Expenditures on Coal as Fuel for Power Plants (2008):''' NJ ranks #24 with $347 million
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*'''Amount of Coal Used to Fuel Power Plants, by Weight (2008):''' NJ ranks #26 with 4,328,000 tons (total & net imports)
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*'''Spending on Net Coal Imports per Capita (2008):''' NJ ranks #28 with $40
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*'''Spending on Net Coal Imports as a Share of Gross State Product (GSP) (2008):''' NJ ranks #28 with 0.07%
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*'''Net Coal Imports as a Share of Total State Electricity Use (2008):''' NJ ranks #28 with 17% net imports/electricity use
  
 
==Citizen groups==
 
==Citizen groups==

Revision as of 12:33, 28 August 2010

{{#badges: CoalSwarm}}

Introduction

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New Jersey had 9 coal-fired generating stations in 2005, with 2,237 MW of capacity, representing 11.5% of the state's total electric generating capacity; New Jersey ranks 36th out of the 50 states in terms of coal-fired electric generating capacity.[1] In 2006, New Jersey's coal-fired power plants produced 10.7 million tons of CO2, 55,000 tons of sulfur dioxide, and 16,000 tons of nitrogen oxide; coal-fired power plants were responsible for 8.7% of the state's total CO2 emissions.[2] In 2005, New Jersey emitted 14.2 tons of CO2 per person, about 50% less than the U.S. average.[3]

No coal was mined in New Jersey in 2006.[4]

Governor Corzine and NJ Department of Environmental Protection release global warming plan

In December 2008, the NJ DEP and Governor Corzine announced a new plan to attack greenhouse gas emissions in the state. The plan recommends state action and policies that will:[5]

  • Clean up existing power plants, put a moratorium on new coal-fired power plants, and expand renewable energy to ensure that all electric sources in the state are carbon-free by 2050. The plan demonstrates that New Jersey could meet all of its electricity needs solely through renewable sources.
  • Promote clean, efficient vehicles, including zero emission electric cars, with a goal of eliminating fossil fuels from the transportation sector.
  • Mandate that buildings meet state-of-the-art efficiency standards and incorporate renewable energy with the goal that, by 2030, every new building should generate more electricity than it consumes.

Citizen activism

Hudson Generating Station and Environmental Justice

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Public Service Enterprise Group's Hudson Generating Station near Jersey City ranked #2 in the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP)'s 2010 report on the nation’s most toxic coal fired power plants. NAACP ranking on environmental justice and coal was based on level of poisonous emissions from coal plants, cross referenced by proximity to large populations of communities of color and low-income communities. Within a three mile radius of the Hudson plant, 85% of the area's 100,000 plus residents are African Americans with an average income of $10,000 per year. Hudson is among over 100 coal plants near residential areas.[6]

History

With little or no coal reserves, New Jersey has no history of coal mining.[7] The coal power industry is also relatively weak in the state, which is dominated by nuclear and natural gas-fired power production.

The license for the 641-MW Oyster Creek nuclear power plant, built in 1969, is expiring in 2009. However, due to a carbon cap that has been proposed by the state's governor - and facing the alternative of building new coal-fired power plants - state regulators are now considering extending Oyster Creek's license.[8]

Legislative issues

Proposed coal plants

Active

Cancelled

Coal lobbying groups

Coal power companies

Existing coal plants

New Jersey had 9 coal-fired generating units at 7 locations in 2005, with 2,237 MW of capacity - representing 11.5% of the state's total electric generating capacity.[1][9][10]

Click on the locations shown on the map for plant details:

Here is a list of coal power plants in New Jersey with capacity over 400 MW:[1][11]

Plant Name County Owner Year(s) Built Capacity 2007 CO2 Emissions 2006 SO2 Emissions SO2/MW Rank
Hudson Hudson Public Service Electric & Gas 1968 660 MW 3,508,000 tons 19,709 tons 62
Mercer Mercer Public Service Electric & Gas 1960, 1961 653 MW 2,358,000 tons 14,517 tons 93

These 2 plants represent 58.7% of New Jersey's coal energy generating capacity, 4.7% of the state's total CO2 emissions, and 13.2% of its total SO2 emissions.[3]

Major coal mines

There are no coal mines in New Jersey.[12]

Spending on Coal Imports

In May 2010, the Union of Concerned Scientists released a report titled Burning Coal, Burning Cash: Ranking the States that Import the Most Coal.[13] The report found that New Jersey ranks seventh in a list state-by-state spending on international coal imports in 2008, with a total of $92.9 million spent on international coal .[13] According to the report, Indonesia was the largest international source of coal burned in the northeastern state, with $64.7 million worth of coal purchased from the country.[13] Venezuela ($28.3 million) was another source of coal.[13]

However, only 26.8 percent of the $347 million spent on coal for New Jersey's power plants was for international imports in 2008.[13] The remaining amount was spent on coal from Pennsylvania ($92 million), Virginia ($77 million), West Virginia ($74 million), Alabama ($6 million), and Wyoming ($5 million).[13]

In 2008, sixteen U.S. states imported 25.4 million tons of coal from outside the country at the cost of $1.8 billion, an amount the equivalent of 1,700 barges over the course of a year, or over four per day.[13] These imports amounted to three percent of the coal burned in the U.S. for electricity.[13] The report noted that while coal imports into the U.S. have tripled over a ten year period ending in 2008, the country exports more coal than it imports.[13] Alabama (with $489 million) ranks number one for state-by-state spending on international coal imports, followed by Florida (with $307 million).[13]

Coal is the source of 14.1 percent of the state's power.[13] The majority of New Jersey's electricity comes from nuclear (50.3 percent) and natural gas (32.5 percent).[13] While coal accounts for only a small percentage of the Garden State's electricity generation, the report notes that "retail customers buy 26 percent more power than New Jersey generates. That means the state imports significant amounts of electricity— some likely produced from coal."

The UCS report ranked states dependence on coal by six categories. Of the six categories, New Jersey was in the top ten for only this one category ('Spending on International Coal Imports').[13] The state otherwise ranked as follows:

  • Expenditures on Coal as Fuel for Power Plants (2008): NJ ranks #24 with $347 million
  • Amount of Coal Used to Fuel Power Plants, by Weight (2008): NJ ranks #26 with 4,328,000 tons (total & net imports)
  • Spending on Net Coal Imports per Capita (2008): NJ ranks #28 with $40
  • Spending on Net Coal Imports as a Share of Gross State Product (GSP) (2008): NJ ranks #28 with 0.07%
  • Net Coal Imports as a Share of Total State Electricity Use (2008): NJ ranks #28 with 17% net imports/electricity use

Citizen groups

Resources

References

  1. ↑ Jump up to: 1.0 1.1 1.2 Existing Electric Generating Units in the United States, 2005, Energy Information Administration, accessed April 2008. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; name "EIA" defined multiple times with different content
  2. ↑ Estimated Emissions for U.S. Electric Power Industry by State, 1990-2006, Energy Information Administration, 2007.
  3. ↑ Jump up to: 3.0 3.1 New Jersey Energy Consumption Information, eRedux website, accessed June 2008.
  4. ↑ Coal Production and Number of Mines by State and Mine Type, Energy Information Administration, accessed June 2008.
  5. ↑ "As Jackson heads to the EPA, NJ DEP and Governor Corzine Release Nation’s Boldest Global Warming Plan ," Environment America, December 15, 2008.
  6. ↑ Jacqui Patterson, "Day VIII Clearing the Air Road Tour—Hammond, IN—State Line Plant" NAACP Climate Justice Initiative, April 14, 2010.
  7. ↑ State Coal Profiles, Energy Information Administration, 1994.
  8. ↑ Aging Nuclear Power Plants May Affect Emissions Pact, New York Times, Sept. 14, 2005.
  9. ↑ Environmental Integrity Project, "Dirty Kilowatts: America’s Most Polluting Power Plants", July 2007.
  10. ↑ Dig Deeper, Carbon Monitoring for Action database, accessed June 2008.
  11. ↑ Dig Deeper, Carbon Monitoring for Action database, accessed June 2008.
  12. ↑ Major U.S. Coal Mines, Energy Information Administration, accessed June 2008.
  13. ↑ Jump up to: 13.00 13.01 13.02 13.03 13.04 13.05 13.06 13.07 13.08 13.09 13.10 13.11 13.12 Jeff Deyette and Barbara Freese, "Burning coal, burning cash: Ranking the states that import the most coal", Union of Concerned Scientists, May 18, 2010.

Related SourceWatch articles

<us_map redirect="{state} and coal"></us_map>

External links

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