Benson | San Pedro Valley Chamber of Commerce - Event Information
Hearing on EPA Impact on Your Electric Bill

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is proposing regulations that would have a serious impact on our local economy – and these proposed regulations aren’t even related to public health issues. They’re for controlling what’s referred to as “regional haze,” and the controls the EPA may mandate for the Apache Generating Station south of Willcox are so expensive, they could seriously curtail the ability of Arizona Electric Power Cooperative (AEPCO) to operate the plant. Jobs could be lost, the cost of producing electricity would soar, and the impact to the regional economy, already suffering from the recession, would be extensive and severe. And the irony of it is, the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality has already accepted a plan for controlling emissions that it says is adequate and achieves the same result – without the damaging economic impact! Geoff Oldfather and Heather Floyd from Arizona’s G&T Cooperatives/AEPCO will be at the SAEDG Open House this Friday, Aug. 10, from 4:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. to discuss this issue and answer questions.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed regulations that could seriously impact you, your family, your businesses, the economic future of your community and everyone in the region. It’s why we’re reaching out to you in this way for the first time – because we need your help.

Please find time to attend an EPA hearing to be held the evening of August 15 in Benson. The details of the meeting are on the next page, but first here is a brief look at what the EPA proposes and why it could deal a crippling blow to our rural economies.

The EPA has said it may require Arizona Electric Power Cooperative (AEPCO) and the Apache Generating Station south of Willcox to install what’s called “selective catalytic reduction” (SCR) technology on the plant’s two coal-fired generators.

Why? Because of “regional haze.” Simply put, the EPA says SCR technology on the Apache Generating Station and at two other plants in the state owned by other companies would cut down on haze that theoretically impairs the view at the Grand Canyon and other national parks and wilderness areas.

But the cost to install SCR equipment at Apache Generating Station is mind-boggling – estimated at up to $218 million dollars. For a not-for-profit electric cooperative like AEPCO it represents a tremendous economic burden, one that would be passed to our distribution cooperative owners and the end-use consumer. It could add $27.7 million in annual operating expenses, which would translate to an 18-percent hike in wholesale power costs. That’s a minimum 12-percent increase in your electric bill. AEPCO operates on extremely narrow margins to begin with, and the yearly cost of this is almost 30 times AEPCO’s annual margins. Bottom line - it will dramatically impact the economic viability of Apache’s steam units and one or both could be shut down. AEPCO pays the largest property tax bill in Cochise County and that income to the county would be impacted. Jobs would be lost, not just at the plant but at businesses that support its operations. The ripple effect would be extensive and ongoing. Our rural economies, already reeling from the ongoing recession, would be permanently damaged.

And our position is that SCR technology is simply not necessary. AEPCO has, since 2007, been part of a dynamic and ongoing process to install “low NOx burner and Overfire Air” equipment on the units that would achieve the same result – at a fraction of the cost. Even the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality – a strict regulating agency – has said the technology we propose is more than adequate and that the EPA mandate would result in an “imperceptible” benefit.
Please read the talking points on the next page and, based on what you read, decide how you feel this federal government agency’s overreaching mandate would impact you and your family and neighbors. Then attend the hearing and make your voice heard.

Thank you for your support.

Best regards,

Geoff Oldfather
Communications and Public Relations Manager
(520) 586-5465
(520) 444-3473 (cell)
goldfather@ssw.coop
08/15/12
06:00 PM - 08:00 PM PST
Cochise College Benson Center
1025 S. Hwy 90
Benson, AZ 85602

click here for map...
Geoff Oldfather < goldfather@ssw.coop >

Dear Fellow Chamber Members and Friends:

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has proposed regulations that could seriously impact you, your family, your businesses, the economic future of your community and everyone in the region. It’s why we’re reaching out to you in this way for the first time – because we need your help.

Please find time to attend an EPA hearing to be held the evening of August 15 in Benson. The details of the meeting are on the next page, but first here is a brief look at what the EPA proposes and why it could deal a crippling blow to our rural economies.

The EPA has said it may require Arizona Electric Power Cooperative (AEPCO) and the Apache Generating Station south of Willcox to install what’s called “selective catalytic reduction” (SCR) technology on the plant’s two coal-fired generators.

Why? Because of “regional haze.” Simply put, the EPA says SCR technology on the Apache Generating Station and at two other plants in the state owned by other companies would cut down on haze that theoretically impairs the view at the Grand Canyon and other national parks and wilderness areas.

But the cost to install SCR equipment at Apache Generating Station is mind-boggling – estimated at up to $218 million dollars. For a not-for-profit electric cooperative like AEPCO it represents a tremendous economic burden, one that would be passed to our distribution cooperative owners and the end-use consumer. It could add $27.7 million in annual operating expenses, which would translate to an 18-percent hike in wholesale power costs. That’s a minimum 12-percent increase in your electric bill. AEPCO operates on extremely narrow margins to begin with, and the yearly cost of this is almost 30 times AEPCO’s annual margins. Bottom line - it will dramatically impact the economic viability of Apache’s steam units and one or both could be shut down. AEPCO pays the largest property tax bill in Cochise County and that income to the county would be impacted. Jobs would be lost, not just at the plant but at businesses that support its operations. The ripple effect would be extensive and ongoing. Our rural economies, already reeling from the ongoing recession, would be permanently damaged.

And our position is that SCR technology is simply not necessary. AEPCO has, since 2007, been part of a dynamic and ongoing process to install “low NOx burner and Overfire Air” equipment on the units that would achieve the same result – at a fraction of the cost. Even the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality – a strict regulating agency – has said the technology we propose is more than adequate and that the EPA mandate would result in an “imperceptible” benefit.

Please read the talking points in the attached file and, based on what you read, decide how you feel this federal government agency’s overreaching mandate would impact you and your family and neighbors. Then attend the hearing and make your voice heard.

Thank you for your support.

Best regards,

Geoff Oldfather
Communications and Public Relations Manager
(520) 586-5465
(520) 444-3473 (cell)
goldfather@ssw.coop


Your Response:

 Yes
 No
 Other

(NOTE: will be visible to other attendees)

Current Invitees

Yes

,
11/30/-0001 12:00 AM
Two of us and I may need to bring my wheel chair, is that a problem? Marilyn Gourley
Bryan, David
11/30/-0001 12:00 AM
Diaz, Lupe
11/30/-0001 12:00 AM
Grace Christian Academy
Figgy, Gus
11/30/-0001 12:00 AM
Dreamers Mini Mall
SERVICES, MBR
11/30/-0001 12:00 AM
Sulphur Springs Valley Electric Cooperative
Welkers, Nancy
11/30/-0001 12:00 AM

No

No Response

, Heather
Abbl, Bobbi
Adams, Mark
Badeker, Scott
Bailey, Martin
Bale, Art
Barker, Mike
Barrera, Dan
Battaglia, Mark
Batten, Cindy
Beeman, Cindy
Betancourt, Michael
Bloodworth, Jim
Boots, Jennifer
Bradbury, Brooks
Brooks, Julie
Bryan, Diane
Bullard, Sydney
Bustamante, Jerry
Calkins, Katherine
Carnes, Linda
Confer, Rosie
Cooper, Brad
Cray, Darryn & Elizabeth
DeMarsico, Vicki Sue
DeMille - Park Manager, Chris
Dempster, Carol
Diaz, Lupe
Dickey, Zibart, Ashley, Jason
DiPeso, David
Dipeso, David
Dunivan, Therese
Dunlap, KT
Durgin, Chris
Durgin, Gloria
Edgett, Richard
Elsmore, Deann
Fenn, Ed
Gammons, Jay
Glass, Chris
Glenn, Cheryl
Gordon, Jim
Gray, Jim & Diane
Griffith, Serena
Hall, Greg
Hall, Sean
Harrison, Sherry
Hart, Ron
Heiss, Randy
Holly, Phillip
Hubron, Johnny
Huffman, Carla
Insalaco, Stephen
Iverson, Nancy
Johansen, Arnette
Johnson, Woody & Regina
Jones, Troy
Kearney, Branch Manager, Arcelia
Kelly, Linda
Kelly, Linda
Kessler, Kierstin
Kester, Lenore
Kirk, Sarah
Kortsen, Jan
Kristina Gregg, Rich Cortes
Kuhn, Bobbe
Lalonde, Michel
LaVelle, Deanna
Lee, Judy
Liu, Andy
Lockhart, Kim
Loeffler, Suze
Luzadder, Kay
Luzadder, Tisha
Macias, Javier
MacKenzie, Mahlon
Malboeuf, Amanda J
Malbouf, Breeanna
Many Horses, Najayyah
Mattos, Mary
McCartha, Rick
McCune, Michael
Meyers, Don
Michael, Chef
Montano, Fernando
Moore, Michael
Mucci, Laura
Nelson, Garry
Nevels, Dan
Noyes, Michelle
Ohlhauser, Curtis
Oldfather, Geoff
Oldfather, Geoff
Owen, Brandy
Paumen, Shawn
Payne, John
Pittman, Luzy
Porter, Dorothy
Ramirez, Steve
Rasch, Kevin
Richards, Troy & Trace
Richardson, Barbara
Ronquill, Gloria
Rush, Jennifer
Salk, Collen
Sangvic, Roger
Sarvaiya, Himanshu
Scalzo, Cat
Schmucker, Joe
Scott, George
Scully, Richard
Smith, Kirsten
Sparr, Janette
Staggs, Bruce
Stalker, Dave
Steel, Mary Ann
Sundberg, Brian
Swingle, G
Teague, TJ
Thola, Shannon
Trask, Tim
Trepanier, Marla
Trujillo, Mike
Trujillo, Steve
Turquoise Hills, Chef
Valentine, Richard
Van Wart, Tom
Van-der-Heiden, Arnold
Villegas, Karla
Wallace, J.D.
Wangsness, Peter
White, Wayne
Wood, Dantre
Workman, Diane
Wycoff, Patrick