- Font Size:
- Default font size
- Larger font size
| Friday, September 05, 2008 | (5 comment(s))
One of the obstacles in the way of expanding Gary/Chicago International Airport is a big one -- Mitchell Generating Station. It needs to go.
The power plant sits near the Lake Michigan shoreline. Extending the cross-wind runway to make the airport more functional requires removing the power plant.
NIPSCO mothballed the plant in January 2002, saying the poor economy and the steel industry doldrums made the plant no longer necessary.
Since then, the steel industry has not just gotten back on its feet again but is running at a fast pace. Some of NIPSCO's industrial customers have argued for preserving the plant.
NIPSCO does need to increase its capacity. But restarting the coal-fired plant is inadvisable, and not just because of its proximity to the airport.
Global warming has its critics, but consensus is growing rapidly that the theory is well founded. Weather patterns are changing, glaciers are disappearing, and the polar ice caps are shrinking.
Beyond that, the region's air quality is already poor enough to require substantial remediation efforts. Mercury from coal-fired power plants is also blamed in water pollution and contributes to the number of advisories urging sport fishermen to cut back on their consumption of fish in those contaminated lakes and streams.
Restarting a coal-fired power plant, pushing more smoke into the air, is a poor choice.
The push is on for alternative energy sources, ones that are more environmentally friendly. That's why NIPSCO is taking such a big step into wind power and has bought the Sugar Creek natural gas-fired power plant near Terre Haute.
In 2006, the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission rejected NIPSCO's plan to tear down the Mitchell plant and give the land to Gary. Last month, a lengthy filing with the IURC included a renewed proposal to jettison the plant.
The IURC should see the wisdom of tearing down the plant both because it impedes the airport expansion and because it is an environmental dinosaur that would seriously worsen the air quality in Northwest Indiana.
Residents and the communities in Northwest Indiana should also see the wisdom of tearing down the plant. Its time has come and gone.
Your opinion, please
Should Indiana regulators allow NIPSCO to tear down the mothballed Mitchell Generating Station?
Share your thoughts at http://nwi.com/opinion
Back to story 5 comment(s)
- It wasn't clear, concise or focused on the topic in the story.
- It was a personal attack, vulgar, explicit or degrading, used actual or implied profanity or contained potentially libelous statements.
- It accused someone of being guilty of a crime.
- It promoted violence or illegal acts.
- It contained telephone numbers or street addresses, or e-mail addresses and links to Web sites other than nwi.com or government agencies.
In no way do these comments represent the views of The Times or Lee Enterprises.
Passionate views, pointed criticism and critical thinking are welcome. Name-calling, crude and profane language and personal abuse are not welcome.
Reader comments will not be edited - they will be approved or declined. They may be used in the print edition of the newspaper.
If you feel a posted comment has violated these guidelines, please email our New Media team the commenter's name, the comment and a link to the article.
For more information please read our Terms of Service.
Post a comment Once your comments are approved, they will appear here.
» More Times Editorials Stories
coal wrote on Sep 5, 2008 4:43 PM:
Tom wrote on Sep 5, 2008 12:26 PM:
Notwithstanding the global warming issue, the plant NIPSCO's property, subject to regulations which already exist. However, he mere fact that it stands in the way of airport expansion is a good reason for me to support maintaining it. "
Meow wrote on Sep 5, 2008 10:30 AM:
Overtaxed wrote on Sep 5, 2008 6:36 AM:
Geezer wrote on Sep 5, 2008 6:22 AM:
Expanding Gary air port is a big waste of money.
It will never be profitable or entice a REAL passenger air line to use it.
Look back, how many air lines have there been in just the last 7 or so years?
I believe there are modern scrubbers that would take care of potential pollution from the Mitchell plant.
Oh, darn, I forgot that would cost NIPSCO money. Well, they could use as is if they pull a BP and throw a few bucks to the pollution control board. "