Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, February 26, 1991 TAG: 9102260379
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B2 EDITION: STATE
SOURCE: Southwest bureau
DATELINE: ARLINGTON LENGTH: Medium
Energy Ventures Analysis Inc. will release a report today saying that 900 to 9,200 jobs could be created in Virginia under the new provisions, with the state's annual low-sulfur coal production rising from 1 million to 5 million tons.
Under the act, utilities must meet strict limits to achieve a national reduction of 10 million tons of sulfur dioxide emissions by the year 2000. The legislation lets utilities choose how to reach those limits, which could be done by more technology controls or switching to low-sulfur coals like those found in Southwest Virginia.
The study, conducted by Energy Ventures principal Thomas A. Hewson Jr., suggests high-sulfur coal-burning units in the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions should switch to Central Appalachia lower-sulfur coal to comply with acid rain requirements, instead of installing more costly technology controls.
Hewson said Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Abingdon, played a leading role in keeping that option open. He said members of Congress from the Midwest had pushed for mandated technology provisions.
Central Appalachia - including Southwest Virginia, eastern Kentucky and southern West Virginia - could be called on to produce 35 million to 65 million tons per year over current levels, Hewson said.
The study examined the impacts of the act on the Virginia coal industry, he said. "Virginia stands to gain both coal-mining jobs and increased revenues because . . . its lower-sulfur coal will be in greater demand."
by CNB