Lime Quarry Project On Hold

Thursday, December 06, 2007 04:02 AM

Graymont map of proposed limestone quarry and plant

Don’t expect to get an invite any day soon to an open house to talk about the Graymont Lime Quarry and Plant Project proposed for the east side of Eaglet Lake near Giscome.

Graymont says the environmental assessment process and the public consultations are on hold until they can get some clarification of the Provincial Government’s regulatory approach.

To be specific, Graymont says it has serious concerns about moving forward with the project because the Province is planning regulations for greenhouse gases, but the details aren’t yet available. Graymont says the proposed $140 million dollar project would use waste pine beetle wood for “up to 100% of its kiln fuel requirements.” That is a big change from the initial information on the plant which called for a coal fired kiln. Graymont looked at alternate fuel sources and plant designs and came up with a design it says would be the most energy efficient lime kiln technology in the world, but it would still create greenhouse gases.

Graymont says it believes the proposed Giscome plant is “the right thing to do” but the company is putting everything on hold. In a release, Graymont says “We intend to work with the Province to determine if a solution can be found to the complex issue, one that allows all parties to meet their objectives. We believe a path forward can be found.”

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Posted on Thursday, December 06, 2007 04:02 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: Chadermando on December 6 2007 6:41 AM

If they are planning on using pine wood for the boilers then I don't see what the hold up should be for.

Currenly BC has the best record in the world for clean energy usage at 92% being carbon free, compared to the North American and European average of around 20%. This despite the fact BC has nearly double the average consumption of energy compared with those same markets.

I see no reason why we would be sacrificing jobs at this point over pine beetle emissions a fraction of what some of these saw mills burn in their beehive burners. Especially when this plant is located in the desired direction for future airshed pollution away from the city bowl.

I think there is more to it. Sounds like a bargining ploy to me.

Posted by: Chadermando on December 6 2007 6:41 AM

opps

http://carma.org/region/detail/597

Posted by: Chadermando on December 6 2007 6:50 AM

If we use the PG Pulp mill as a comparision due to their use of co-gen power then we can see they have an ultra low intensity level(pounds of CO2 emitted per megawatt-hour of electricity produced) of 157 were most mills are over 2000 and the Mackenzie Pulp mill for example is over 1800.

Obviousely using wood waaste isn't as bad for the environment as some would like to make it out to be.

Posted by: diplomat on December 6 2007 7:39 AM

That is the reason wood pellets are being promoted in Europe big time as the best alternative to coal and gas fired electrical generating stations!

I sure hope that no new coal burning generating will be build in B.C. but that they would use wood pellets instead.

Can somebody influence Victoria or has the die already been cast?

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on December 6 2007 7:58 AM

If it isn't the greenies shutting things down, it is their green gases, Heehee!

I'm wondering if this is the first project in BC to bring home to the government what it means to attend high flying conferences, get all excited about something and start a brave new world. The job makers and risk takers of the world look at what BC signed and say, "Well you tell me whether the world as we know it is over?"

How's the government going to pay for the Indian's land claims now? Reality is our standard of living will be far less than it is today, Kyoto style.

Kind of unlikely that just as the Babyboomers are about to drive the health care budget through the roof, that we will be expected to go back to horse and buggy and scratching a living out in the dirt. We're too spoilt to let that happen, we'll be stringing greenies up on lamp posts for decoration like the folks used to do to crows to keep the rest away.

I'm betting that not only will we leave our kids our enormous debt, but we burn carbon right to our dying breath.

It's cold out there! I'm looking forward to the hot tub tonight! Heehee!

Posted by: owl on December 6 2007 8:23 AM

" ..... plant designs and came up with a design it says would be the most energy efficient lime kiln technology in the world, but it would still create greenhouse gases."

Wood is a plant and is thus carbon based. Burning wood creates CO2 just the same as burning coal or oil/gas. The difference is that one is a fossil fuel and the other is from a living plant. Kyoto gives that a green seal of approval since it does not remove sequestered carbon from the ground and puts it into the air. I doubt that BC will have anything more stringent than that, so I also wonder what the real story is.

Posted by: caranmacil on December 6 2007 10:58 AM

Here here on the wood fired energy! I think that a lot of people forget that wood turns into greenhouse gases whether we burn it or not. In fact, decaying wood gives off methane which is a more serious problem. I thought it was (and is) insane that the province was backing coal fired power plants (THE worst option as far as global warming) while still quibbling over site C. Hands up everyone who thinks the solution to all our problems is conservation.... Hard to match that idea with our current model of perpetual economic growth.

Posted by: diplomat on December 6 2007 1:04 PM

"How's the government going to pay for the Indian's land claims now?"

With land and money! The Federal purse is overflowing with surpluses! The longer Canada waits the more expensive it will get.

"Reality is our standard of living will be far less than it is today, Kyoto style."

It doesn't have to be! There are vast business opportunities and jobs in inventing, engineering, building and selling the new clean technologies that everybody needs!

Let's join Kyoto and get on the profitable bandwagon ahead of others who are still dithering.

Those who oppose Kyoto are out of touch.

Posted by: northman on December 6 2007 3:55 PM

You can make all the "green" products and engineer green concepts but one thing we have to face is that the raw materials still are extracted from the earth from a mine or forest. These green freaks still dont seem to get the concept that man kind extracts resources. The day that we become 100% clean is when we go back to living in mud huts which isnt happening soon.

Posted by: giterdun on December 6 2007 4:21 PM

MINES SUSPENDED..
MILLS CLOSING..
LIME QUARRY ON HOLD..
LAST ONE TO LEAVE TOWN PLEASE TURN OUT THE LIGHTS, THANKS.

Posted by: BC Mary on December 6 2007 4:25 PM

Some of the most beautiful, durable, comfortable homes on earth are made of natural materials shaped by hand-held tools:

log homes, straw-bale construction, mud-brick construction, and more.

Don't give up so easily.

Posted by: Palopu on December 6 2007 8:05 PM

If Graymont is going to burn wood to fire the kilns, and they are going to use beetle killed trees, then I expect they will try to get the trees for nothing, using the argument that they are going to rot anyway.

Posted by: YamaDooPolCat on December 6 2007 10:42 PM

BC Mary says "..Some of the most beautiful, durable, comfortable homes on earth are made of natural materials shaped by hand-held tools:

log homes, straw-bale construction, mud-brick construction, and more.

Don't give up so easily..."

Especially when at -35C they are heated with a nice natural gas forced air furnace made by some of the hardest working people that took century's of development.

Those that want to live in poverty need to go to warmer climates and abandon Canada for the sun and sand down south. Have a nice trip, after the hallucinary drugs wear off.