The Oklahoma Sierra Club is fighting a new effort by Oklahoma Gas and Electric to win Corporation Commission approval for the installation of scrubbers on its aging Sooner coal-fired power plant at Red Rock. It was only a few months ago when the Commission rejected OGE’s plan to spend $500 million to make the costly upgrades and have consumers pay for it through rate hikes.
“The commissioners acted in the best interest of Oklahoma when they rejected OGE’s so-called ‘environmental compliance plan,’ ” said Johnson Bridgwater, Director of the Sierra Club’s Oklahoma chapter. “It is expensive and unnecessary. Everyone from the AARP and the Sierra Club to consumer and faith groups stood with Oklahomans and opposed the plan.”
He called the request “an appalling case of deja vu” as the utility presented the same same plan requested a year ago.
“OGE had an opportunity to revise a shortsighted plan that placed all of the burden on its customers but instead, unbelievably, is asking the commission to reconsider the same risky path,” added Bridgwater. “It’s time for OGE to get serious and stop wasting time and resources when Okalhoma’s health, economy and future are on the line. The commissioners should stand by their decision and reject this request immediately.”
In the request filed Friday, OGE did not ask for approval to raise rates on consumers. But it still expects to spend more than $500 million on the two scrubbers. The utility explained it had already spent nearly $130 million on the project.
“While OGE does not need permission to take a particular course of action in meeting its environmental obligations, for projections of this magnitude it is important for us to know that regulators agree with our overall plan,” said Paul Renfrow, vice president of public affairs and corporate administration. “Business, political and other circumstances almost certainly will change between now and completion of the project in three years, and the decision we make today will be second-guessed then.”
