Twin Falls, Idaho-Gov. Jim Risch (R) has reversed a decision by former Gov. Dirk Kempthorne and directed the Idaho Department of Environmental Quality to opt out of a federal mercury trading program. His decision means Idaho will see no new power plants in the state for the time being. Mercury is a poisonous metal that threatens kidneys and the nervous, digestive, and respiratory systems, especially of young children. Idaho is one of three states that do not have coal-fired power plants, so opting into the program would allow a power plant builder to buy credits from elsewhere to emit mercury in Idaho. The federal rule sets a cap for mercury emissions and allows polluters who reduce mercury emissions to trade credits for those reductions to other companies who want to build power plants elsewhere. Because regular pulverized coal-fired power plants produce mercury pollution along with electricity, the decision means a power plant like the one Sempra Energy proposed near Jerome could not be built. Idaho can meet its energy needs without plants like Sempra’s, Risch said. Proponents of a 520-megawatt coal gasification plant that would be constructed in Power County near the J.R. Simplot Company’s phosphate fertilizer plant reacted nonchalantly to the news that Idaho will temporarily close its doors to mercury-emitting power plants. Kent Rudeen, Power County Development Authority chairman, said he doesn’t see Risch’s decision as an obstacle, because the new plant would be clean. But Environmental Protection Agency officials said they doubt assertions the $850 million power plant proposed for the former FMC site could be built with the new restrictions. Both major candidates for Idaho governor, Jerry Bradley (D) and Rep. C.L. Otter (R), backed Risch’s decision on this issue.
Transparency Across the Fertilizer Value-Chain