November 25, 2006 by Walter Schneider.

UK: The Environment Agency has approved plans to extend an 18-month trial burning of petcoke by a further six months, to June, 2007.

Selby District Council’s environment board met representatives from Drax and the Environment Agency on Thursday to discuss the trials.

They were commissioned last June to look at the environmental effects of burning petroleum coke - a by-product of the American petrochemical industry.

Green campaigners have dubbed petcoke the “fuel from hell” due to its high sulphur content, which causes acid rain. It also contains the heavy metal nickel, which is carcinogenic, and the irritant vanadium….(Full Story (off-site)

Posted in Acid Rain, Heavy-Metal Poisoning & Pollution, Sulphur-Dioxide | Print | No Comments »

November 25, 2006 by Walter Schneider.

That is not sulphur-related news.  Nevertheless, it is of interest to people who live in rural areas in the vicinity of the waste-sulphur facility proposed by HAZCO.Application forms for energy-purchase contracts for members of the Bruderheim and Chipman REAs can be obtained now.  The contracts offer electric energy at a price that is about two cents per kWh below the price those members are paying presently for energy offered under the regulated rate tariff.  The regulated rate tariff has been increasing every month lately, while the contract price on offer will be guaranteed to stay for one year at the rate of 6.9 cents per kWh.  That is a clear and substantial advantage and explains why the application forms for energy purchase contracts are in such great demand.  (Additional Details)

Posted in Energy Purchases | Print | No Comments »