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The air permit is required by Senate
Bill 7 (deregulation law) for so called “grandfathered”
power plants. These are power plants that were already operating
when state air permitting requirements were being developed
in the 1970s. The permit is required by the state in order
for Holly to operate until its closure. The standard life
of this permit is 10 years. However, Austin Energy
has requested that the permit extend to only 2009 as Holly
will be retired by that date or sooner, if possible.
To receive this permit, Austin Energy must
meet limits on nitrogen oxide (NOx) emissions through what
is called a cap and trade program. This means AE must limit
NOx emissions from all of its power plants in Austin combined
to 1,741 tons per year. The permit allows a utility to either
reduce emissions at its plants or purchase credits.
AE will meet the requirements of the permit
by reducing emissions at both power plants. In fact, AE is
reducing emissions from Holly and Decker to a greater level
than required to offset completely the NOx emissions from
all generating units at AE’s new Sand Hill energy center.
Background on
Holly Emissions and Operations
Holly Emissions.
Holly is fueled by natural gas. NOx is its only significant
emission. Particulates (dust), sulfur dioxide (SO2), volatile
organic compounds (VOC) and carbon monoxide (CO) are emitted
in trace amounts.
A 1994 assessment by the TCEQ found that emissions from the
Holly plant would not exceed any national ambient air quality
standards. Emissions rates from Holly today are lower
than they were in 1994 by more than one-third.
Cost of Emissions Improvements. Reductions
of NOx emissions have been achieved through modifications
at both Holly and Decker at a total cost of $3.9 million.
AE's contractor for the work, RJM Corporation, has completed
improvements to Decker Unit 1 and Holly Units 3 and 4. Modifications
are underway to Decker Unit 2 and will be completed by May
2003.
Holly generating units are operating less each year.
In 1998 all four units together operated for 13,000 hours.
For 2002 the total was about 5,300 hours and operating hours
for 2003 are projected at 3,600.
In actual numbers Holly emitted 708 tons of NOx in
1999. NOx emissions for 2002 are projected
at 273 tons.
As a point of reference, on road vehicles
(traffic) and off road vehicles (trains,
boats, construction equipment, lawnmowers) in Travis County
emitted 27,000 tons of NOx in 1999, the latest
emissions inventory.
Austin Energy installed continuous emissions monitors
in the stacks of all four generating units at Holly in 1995
to measure NOx and SO2 emissions as required by the Clean
Air Act Amendments of 1990. Emissions results are submitted
quarterly to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).
Holly is no longer capable of operating on fuel oil. Fuel
oil has not been used at Holly since the late 1980’s.
All fuel oil has been physically removed from Holly
and the fuel storage tanks at the plant will be disassembled
during 2003.
A public health assessment was conducted by the Texas Department
of Health (TDH) in 1999. The TDH reviewed emissions data,
TCEQ air dispersion modeling and other information and found
that the Holly Power Plant poses no apparent public
health hazard. Specifically the assessment found
that neither emissions from the plant nor the plant site pose
a health threat to the Holly neighborhood.
Electric and Magnetic Fields. EMF is associated
with any device using or transporting electricity. This includes
power lines and home appliances such as TVs, computers, hair
dryers, lights. The TDH assessment referenced above indicated
that “magnetic field measurements near the power lines
in the neighborhood adjacent to the Holly Street Power Plant
were similar to the magnetic fields calculated for other power
lines throughout the City of Austin.”
Readings directly under power lines in the Holly neighborhood
and across Austin are in the range of 20-60 milliGauss (mG).
By comparison a handheld hair dryer exposes the user’s
head to 25-80 mG. Microwave oven use exposes the user to 25-80
mG. No national mG safety threshold has been established.
The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists
recommends a maximum exposure limit for workers of
10,000 mG. No standard has yet to be adopted for
workers.
Noise. Between 1994-1997 at a cost
of $30 million, Austin Energy implemented sound proofing measures
at the power plant to reduce noise. In addition, since 1994,
Austin Energy has weatherized or helped soundproof over 200
homes around the power plant. In 1998 Radian International
was commissioned to conduct noise level testing around the
Holly neighborhood and around Metz Elementary. They found
that noise levels were well within standards (65 decibels)
and comparable with noise levels experienced in other Austin
neighborhoods. As a point of comparison, the noise level 20
feet from a running automobile is 74 decibels. At a busy intersection
it is 90 decibels.
Holly Retirement
Austin Energy will retire Holly units one and two by the end
of 2004 and will retire the entire plant by 2009, or sooner
if possible. Austin Energy has expended over $300 million
dollars making improvements to the electric system necessary
before Holly can be physically retired.
For more information, contact Ed
Clark, Public Information.
Phone: (512) 322-6514
Pager: (512) 802-2000
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