North Valmy Station
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North Valmy Station is an operating power station of at least 567-megawatts (MW) in Valmy, Humboldt, Nevada, United States.
Location
Table 1: Project-level location details
| Plant name | Location | Coordinates (WGS 84) |
|---|---|---|
| North Valmy Station | Valmy, Humboldt, Nevada, United States | 40.881736, -117.152272 (exact) |
The map below shows the exact location of the power station.
Unit-level coordinates (WGS 84):
- Unit 1, Unit 2: 40.881736, -117.152272
Project Details
Table 2: Unit-level details
| Unit name | Status | Fuel(s) | Capacity (MW) | Technology | Start year | Retired year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 1 | operating | coal - bituminous | 277.2 | subcritical | 1981 | 2025 (planned) |
| Unit 2 | operating | coal - bituminous | 289.8 | subcritical | 1985 | 2025 (planned) |
Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details
| Unit name | Owner |
|---|---|
| Unit 1 | Idaho Power Co [50.0%], Sierra Pacific Power Co [50.0%] |
| Unit 2 | Idaho Power Co [50.0%], Sierra Pacific Power Co [50.0%] |
Financing
- Owner: Idaho Power 50%[1], NV Energy 50%[2]
Peak Energy Demand Production
As of 2017 the coal plant operates primarily to meet peak energy demand in the summer but remains idle through much of the year.[3][4]
Unit Retirements and Possible Conversions
In 2018 it was reported that Unit 1 is planned for retirement in 2021, and unit 2 in 2025.[5][6][7]
As of 2020, the EIA 860m database had both units scheduled for retirement in 2025.[8]
In July 2023, it was reported that NV Energy asked regulators to approve US$83 million for converting the coal-fired power plant to run on gas by the end of 2025.[9][10]
Emissions Data
- 2006 CO2 Emissions: 3,839,339 tons
- 2006 SO2 Emissions: 7,161 tons
- 2006 SO2 Emissions per MWh:
- 2006 NOx Emissions: 7,515 tons
- 2005 Mercury Emissions: 11 lb.
Death and disease attributable to fine particle pollution from North Valmy Station
In 2010, Abt Associates issued a study commissioned by the Clean Air Task Force, a nonprofit research and advocacy organization, quantifying the deaths and other health effects attributable to fine particle pollution from coal-fired power plants.[11] Fine particle pollution consists of a complex mixture of soot, heavy metals, sulfur dioxide, and nitrogen oxides. Among these particles, the most dangerous are those less than 2.5 microns in diameter, which are so tiny that they can evade the lung's natural defenses, enter the bloodstream, and be transported to vital organs. Impacts are especially severe among the elderly, children, and those with respiratory disease. The study found that over 13,000 deaths and tens of thousands of cases of chronic bronchitis, acute bronchitis, asthma, congestive heart failure, acute myocardial infarction, dysrhythmia, ischemic heart disease, chronic lung disease, and pneumonia each year are attributable to fine particle pollution from U.S. coal plant emissions. These deaths and illnesses are major examples of coal's external costs, i.e. uncompensated harms inflicted upon the public at large. Low-income and minority populations are disproportionately impacted as well, due to the tendency of companies to avoid locating power plants upwind of affluent communities. To monetize the health impact of fine particle pollution from each coal plant, Abt assigned a value of $7,300,000 to each 2010 mortality, based on a range of government and private studies. Valuations of illnesses ranged from $52 for an asthma episode to $440,000 for a case of chronic bronchitis.[12]
Table 1: Death and disease attributable to fine particle pollution from North Valmy Station
| Type of Impact | Annual Incidence | Valuation |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths | 10 | $74,000,000 |
| Heart attacks | 15 | $1,700,000 |
| Asthma attacks | 180 | $10,000 |
| Hospital admissions | 7 | $170,000 |
| Chronic bronchitis | 7 | $2,900,000 |
| Asthma ER visits | 9 | $3,000 |
Source: "Find Your Risk from Power Plant Pollution," Clean Air Task Force interactive table, accessed February 2011
Articles and Resources
References
- ↑ "Thermal" idohapower.com, accessed June 17, 2020
- ↑ "Pacificorp 10-k 2019" bkenergy.com accessed June 17,2020
- ↑ "Idaho Power intends to pursue closure of Valmy Unit 1 in 2019 and Unit 2 in 2025," Sierra Club, May 4, 2017
- ↑ "Navajo Generating Station and Air Visibility Regulations: Alternatives and Impacts" (PDF). HDR Engineering, Inc. March 2012. Retrieved November 19, 2012.
- ↑ "Clean Energy Advocates Celebrate Approval of NV Energy’s Plans to Retire North Valmy Coal Unit Early," Sierra Club, Dec 21, 2018
- ↑ "2019 Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) Reference Sheet," Idaho Power, Sep 15, 2018
- ↑ Solis, Jeniffer (22 December 2018). "NV Energy to close coal plant, adds solar". Nevada Current. Archived from the original on 30 July 2019.
- ↑ "Preliminary Monthly Electric Generator Inventory" eia.gov, 860m March 2020
- ↑ "NV Energy plan, process draws criticism," Nevada Current, July 28, 2023
- ↑ "NV Energy to convert final coal-fired plant to natural gas," Power Engineering, July 27, 2023
- ↑ "The Toll from Coal: An Updated Assessment of Death and Disease from America's Dirtiest Energy Source," Clean Air Task Force, September 2010.
- ↑ "Technical Support Document for the Powerplant Impact Estimator Software Tool," Prepared for the Clean Air Task Force by Abt Associates, July 2010
Additional data
To access additional data, including an interactive map of coal-fired power stations, a downloadable dataset, and summary data, please visit the Global Coal Plant Tracker on the Global Energy Monitor website.
