George Neal Station South
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George Neal Station South is an operating power station of at least 695-megawatts (MW) in Sioux City, Woodbury, Iowa, United States.
Location
Table 1: Project-level location details
| Plant name | Location | Coordinates (WGS 84) |
|---|---|---|
| George Neal Station South | Sioux City, Woodbury, Iowa, United States | 42.299653, -96.362597 (exact) |
The map below shows the exact location of the power station.
Unit-level coordinates (WGS 84):
- Unit 4: 42.299653, -96.362597
Project Details
Table 2: Unit-level details
| Unit name | Status | Fuel(s) | Capacity (MW) | Technology | Start year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Unit 4 | operating | coal: subbituminous | 695.9 | subcritical | 1979 |
Table 3: Unit-level ownership and operator details
| Unit name | Owner | Parent |
|---|---|---|
| Unit 4 | NorthWestern Energy Group Inc [8%]; other [16%]; Corn Belt Power Cooperative [8%]; Interstate Power and Light Co [25%]; MidAmerican Energy Co [40%] | Berkshire Hathaway Inc [40.6%]; Alliant Energy Corp [25.7%]; other [16.4%]; NorthWestern Energy Group Inc [8.7%]; Touchstone Energy Cooperative Inc |
Alliant Energy Coal Exit
In 2020, Interstate Power and Light parent company, Alliant Energy set an “aspiration” to reach net-zero carbon by 2050 and eliminate all coal power plants from its fleet by 2040.[1]
Death and disease attributable to fine particle pollution from George Neal South
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.[2] 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.[3]
Table 1: Death and disease attributable to fine particle pollution from George Neal South
| Type of Impact | Annual Incidence | Valuation |
|---|---|---|
| Deaths | 11 | $84,000,000 |
| Heart attacks | 18 | $2,000,000 |
| Asthma attacks | 200 | $10,000 |
| Hospital admissions | 9 | $200,000 |
| Chronic bronchitis | 7 | $3,200,000 |
| Asthma ER visits | 12 | $5,000 |
Source: "Find Your Risk from Power Plant Pollution," Clean Air Task Force interactive table, accessed April 2011
Coal Ash Waste and Water Contamination
In August 2010 a study released by the Environmental Integrity Project, the Sierra Club and Earthjustice reported that Iowa, along with 34 states, had significant groundwater contamination from coal ash that was not recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The report, in an attempt to pressure the EPA to regulate coal ash, noted that most states do not monitor drinking water contamination levels near waste disposal sites.[4] The report mentioned Iowa's George Neal Station South and George Neal Station North were two sites that have groundwater contamination due to coal ash waste.[5]
Emissions Data
- CO2 Emissions: 4,673,886 tons (2006), 5,018,235.41 tons (2008)[6]
- SO2 Emissions: 16,440 tons (2006), 14,906.10 tons (2008)[7]
- SO2 Emissions per MWh:
- NOx Emissions: 4,748 tons (2006), 5,420.76 tons (2008)[7]
- Mercury Emissions: 400 lb. (2005)
Articles and Resources
References
- ↑ "Wisconsin Utility Alliant Energy Pledges Net-Zero Carbon by 2050" greentechmedia.com, July 23, 2020
- ↑ "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
- ↑ "Study of coal ash sites finds extensive water contamination" Renee Schoff, Miami Herald, August 26, 2010.
- ↑ "Enviro groups: ND, SD coal ash polluting water" Associated Press, August 24, 2010.
- ↑ Iowa Operating Permit Application, Title V Annual Emissions Summary
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Iowa Operating Permit Application, Form 5.0, Title V Annual Emissions Summary
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.
