- Cowlitz PUD

IGCCIntegrated Gasification Combined Cycle plants (IGCCs) are another type of coalburning plant. Unlike pulverized coal plants, IGCCs use chemical processes toconvert coal into gas, which is in turn used to run a combined cycle combustionturbine. IGCCs have an advantage to traditional coal plants in that they havecleaner emissions and are more efficient. Another benefit is the ability of IGCCsto sequester carbon dioxide. However, IGCCs are an emerging technology andlarge scale generation is somewhat unproven at this time – particularly thetechnology associated with carbon sequestration. The reference plant isdesigned to have economics similar to the 400 megawatt IGCC plant proposedby Energy Northwest.NuclearCommercial nuclear generation relies on fission of elements such as uranium tocreate heat, which is in turn used to power steam generators. Nucleargeneration has been controversial because of the threat of environmentaldamage linked to inadvertent release of radioactive materials. This fact,combined with lengthy permitting and high capital costs, have caused utilities tochoose other technologies. However, recent concern about the impact of carbondioxide emissions has renewed interest in nuclear generation.Nuclear power plants typically have high capital costs for building a new plant,but low fuel costs. As a result, the viability of nuclear generators is very sensitiveto assumptions about finance costs and construction timeline. According to ajoint 2005 OECD-NEA study the capital investment makes up about 70% of thecost of electricity generated. At present there is a high amount of uncertaintyregarding the capital costs for plant construction. Some analysts have estimatedcapital costs as low as $2,000 per KW and as high as $6,000 per KW.To encourage the development of nuclear power the department of energylaunched the “Nuclear Power 2010” initiative. Under this program, thegovernment offered to subsidize between a quarter to a half of the cost overrunsrelated with construction delays. In the fall of 2007, NRG announced plans tobuild the first new nuclear power plant in the US since 1978.32