The EPA has approved the air permit for the 1,500 megawatt Desert Rock Energy power plant. The plant is located on Navajo Reservation land approximately 25 miles southwest of Farmington, NM. The plant and air permit is based on pulverized coal technology.

According to the EPA, the emission limits are the most stringent in the country and will set new standards for coal fired (meaning pulverized coal) power plants in the United States.

This is an amazing statement considering that there are no plans to capture CO2 capture and inject it into the deep geological formations for sequestration or send it through pipelines to West Texas oil fields for enhanced oil recovery.

Coal gasification technology makes it economically feasible to capture CO2 for sequestration or enhanced oil recovery and projects are still having a difficult time getting air permits approved. What is implication for coal gasification plants? For the answer and information on how to get an air permit for a coal gasification plant approved without CO2 capture and sequestration it might be a good idea to contact the persons at the EPA that approved this air permit.

The Governor Bill Richardson, New Mexico Governor, has stated that New Mexico will appeal the decision. The appeal is based partially on the the fact that there are already two pulverized coal power plants in the same area and they release 28 million tons of CO2 annually on a combined basis.