Proposed petcoke plant is facing a 4-pronged attack

BOUNTIFUL — Southern Davis County residents may have a couple of years to breathe just a bit more easily if the Utah Legislature passes an upcoming bill that could place a moratorium on power generation facilities.

Among the facilities that would be affected is the 109-megawatt power plant proposed by Consolidated Energy Systems. Consolidated Energy wants to build the plant adjacent to the Holly Oil refinery in West Bountiful. The plant would be fueled by residual oil and petroleum coke, two cheap, but dirty byproducts of the refining process.

Rep. Roger Barrus, R-Centerville, said his legislation, which is nearly written, is designed to give the Utah Division of Air Quality two years to develop rules and modeling criteria for permitting those types of facilities in the future.

That's because the Wasatch Front doesn't meet an upcoming federal standard for particulate matter 2.5 microns in size.

Barrus said he's confident his bill, which will likely be made public this week, will be seen favorably by the Legislature.

Barrus' proposed legislation is just part of a four-pronged approach to dealing with potential polluters, an approach that includes West Bountiful, the division and local residents.

Barrus spoke to a group of 140 residents who attended the first public meeting of the Davis County Community Coalition at the Bountiful branch of the Davis County Library.

The coalition was recently formed to oppose the power plant, which the Utah Division of Air Quality has intended to permit. State officials say the facility would meet stringent air standards the division would impose on the plant.

But most people who oppose the plant say any additional pollution it would bring to an already polluted area is too much. The division is currently reviewing more than 500 public comments received during the comment period that closed Jan. 15.

DAQ new source review permit manager Ty Howard said he doesn't expect the division to make a final decision until April.

By then, the Legislature could put a halt to new polluting power plants.

Utah Physicians for a Healthy Environment, Utah Moms for Clean Air, the Davis County Board of Health, two state legislators and residents opposed the plant's permit during a Jan. 13 public hearing.

West Bountiful Mayor James Behunin said the city is analyzing options for stopping the plant if it gets an operating permit.

And Barrus said he's confident the DAQ, as a regulator, is doing its job and is doing a good job.

Cecilee Price-Huish, a Bountiful resident and co-founder of the coalition, urged residents to write letters to Gov. Jon Huntsman Jr., members of the state's Air Quality Board, state legislators and newspapers.

The coalition is planning a rally at the state capitol on Feb. 25 at noon. More information on the coalition is available at www.ccgpearl.com/petcoke.

E-MAIL: jdougherty@desnews.com