Wolverine hearing set for May 19 at RCHS

by Richard Lamb, Advance Editor

The public will again have the chance to give its input on what could be a major change to the area. A public hearing on Wolverine Power?s proposed 600-megawatt power plant is Thursday, May 19 at Rogers City High School (see public notice ad on page 3A). According to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) the comments will be limited to certain environmental issues. When the state denied Wolverine?s application May 21 2010, it did so based on a perceived lack of need, as determined by an opinion of the Michigan Public Service Commission. Wolverine appealed that denial and a Missaukee County judge agreed that there was no legal basis for the denial, sending it back to the DEQ in January.

?Therefore, the MDEQ has re-evaluated the Permit to Install application for the proposed power plant, absent the consideration of need, and accounting for recent regulations that have been finalized since the denial action. These regulations are the new 1-hour National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) for nitrogen oxides (NO2) and sulfur dioxide (SO2) and the requirement to provide a Best Available Control Technology (BACT) demonstration for greenhouse gases,? the DEQ document states. The DEQ further states that installation of the power plant ?will not violate any of the department?s rules? based on expected emissions.

Comments will be limited to the DEQ?s ?proposed condition

al approval of the BACT demonstration for greenhouse gases and for the air quality analysis demonstrating the proposed power plant will not violate the NAAQS new 1-hour thresholds for NO2 and SO2? the document states. DEQ spokesman Brad Wurfel said that without the provision of ?need? considered, the applicant would have met all state and federal requirements last year. Modifications in the permit have to be made because of new federal regulations enacted in 2010. Even if the state issues a permit to install, sought by Wolverine for so long, that is no guarantee the power plant would be built, Wurfel cautioned.

?From there, the applicant is in a much better position to offer perspective on what their construction plans and timeline look like. They have 18 months from the date of issuance to begin construction. I mention this because I get the sense that many in the region have varied expectations about what will or could happen, and how soon,? he said. The session on May 19 will begin with an informal panel session from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. where DEQ staff will be available to answer questions. The formal hearing begins at 7 p.m. in the high school gymnasium. Testimony will be taken on NAAQS new 1-hour thresholds for NO2 and SO2 but questions will not be answered during the hearing.