Committee proposes alternatives to Southwest 2

The political action committee on Monday presented its formal stance against the proposed Southwest 2 plant, which is expected to go before voters in June, and offered alternative options for energy generation that would suffice until technology has advanced.

“The next 30 years, we believe, will not be like the last 30,” said Gary Wright, physician and CAE member. “Conservation and energy efficiency are advancing technologically … and an incremental diversified plan for Springfield will buy time.”

Committee members say their plan would raise CU rates by only about $1 per month, compared to a $9.63 monthly increase that CU says is necessary to fund Southwest 2.

CAE calls for a four-fold plan that includes energy efficiency, demand-side management, renewable and alternative power and natural gas peaking plants.

Energy efficiency, said CAE chair and home builder Lance Wright, is up to both CU and its customers. Conservation efforts will play into demand management, which would reduce the area's peak load.

CU officials have said there are efforts under way to implement a more effective energy-efficiency program, but they have said a program alone would not meet the energy needs of southwest Missouri.

That's OK, says Lance Wright, as CAE also proposes a long list of possible renewable and alternative power options, including a sewage-methane powered generator, utility-scale wind generators and solar power.

The final part of CAE's plan is to build several small-peaking power plants, rather than Southwest 2 with its 300-megawatt peaking capability. The smaller plants would be available to correct “future imbalances between supply and demand.”

Committee members admit their plan would not generate as much energy as Southwest 2, but they say CU customers don't present an energy need for the plant anyway.

“If we're only buying 50 megawatts when we need it, than the cost is logically less,” he said.

CAE members acknowledge the complexity of their plan and say they hope to educate voters at public forums and through flyers and pamphlets.

The first forum, “Health Impacts of Air Pollution,” is scheduled for 7 p.m. Feb. 22 at Brentwood Library. A second event, which will detail CAE's alternatives to Southwest 2, will be at 7 p.m. March 16 at a yet-to-be-determined location. Additional forums will be scheduled three weeks apart and will be announced later.