Comments on: Blog: CSU will have no choice but to shut down Drake

By: Frank Kennedy

Frank Kennedy — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 02:49:57 +0000

What a bunch of nonsense. Like everyone knows if it ain’t broke, don’t fix. Our Utility company has been doing just fine.

By: Jenn S

Jenn S — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 22:06:38 +0000

Let us not forget the folks that work there? My spouse works at Drake, and that’s how we pay our bills. As Ron says, let’s get all the facts first.

By: Sam Masias

Sam Masias — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 14:58:07 +0000

The cleanest coal is the coal that is left in the ground in favor of renewable energy like wind and solar complimented with cleaner burning natural gas. That NG could come from the Banning Lewis Ranch in the next few years. Think outside of the coal car.

By: Ron Rubin

Ron Rubin — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 05:59:51 +0000

I believe it may be a little premature to be sounding a death knell for the Martin Drake Power Plant, John. You seem to focus on Drake but what about Nixon if the suit covers both? I don’t believe that the Sierra Club wants to close them down, just clean them up. How many of those violations occurred each year and how many are recent violations? I am not jumping on the bandwagon to close Drake, as so many want to do without knowing costs, alternatives, and impact to the owners/citizens. Let’s have all the facts before proclaiming that the death rattle is almost audible.

By: Tim Griffith

Tim Griffith — Tue, 04 Dec 2012 01:17:16 +0000

You forgot to mention that these are frivolous lawsuits that Sierra Club has been filing all around the nation. You also forgot to mention that they typically do not win these suits.

Here is a direct quote from a Sept. 18th article from the Gazette by Seth Richardson:

“Cutting-edge pollution control technology being tested at the Drake power plant is threatening the ecozealot Sierra Club’s political agenda to shut down all fossil fuel power production, so they are threatening to sue Colorado Springs for alleged unpermitted “major modifications” to the plant. Gazette reporter Daniel Chacon outlines the Sierra Club’s claims in today’s Gazette, quoting club organizer Bryce Carter as saying that the Neumann Systems Group technology being tested, and soon to be installed at Drake was “definitely a consideration” in the club’s lawsuit.”

It also goes on:

“The club jumped on the Drake controversy precisely because it fears what it calls “experimental and unproven NeuStream technology” will actually succeed in dramatically reducing pollution from coal-fired power plants, which it shows every sign of doing right now. Colorado Springs is today at the forefront of technological innovation that can keep coal a cheap and viable source of power for the next century or more.”

I certainly hope you are wrong because these lawsuits are political tools and aren’t dealing with facts, but trying to scare people away from coal even though it is getting cleaner over time.

By: Sam Masias

Sam Masias — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 18:42:34 +0000

That is so surprising that they would be sloppy in their filings. Mr. Forte consistently has received bonuses for his leadership. I wonder it there will be any more vigorous review of his performance this year?

By: Tim Boddington

Tim Boddington — Mon, 03 Dec 2012 18:42:09 +0000

The latest news about our climate change accelerating beyond the predictions of the experts says to me that Neuman’s technology is more important than ever. If its potential is to further include the sequestration of carbon dioxide, why does it’s potential not trump all other possible financial outcomes. If climate change spells anything to those who honestly look at the evolving world today, it spells very, very serious effects to our lives and especially to our children’s children. Making every decision based on financial’s alone seems terribly short sighted. We’re in a crisis and won’t admit it. Let’s try to see an alternative negotiation that says the Sierra Club acknowledges the effects of climate change and would like to see an acceleration of Neuman’s research in order to help SAVE THE EARTH!