Update: March 2012
Although DKRW still awaits state approval to continue with the project, the company’s Executive Chairman, Bob Kelly now expects the Medicine Bow power plant to begin construction and operation in 2015. He also stated that the project will not depend on any one source of financing. A “gravel road and a small poured concrete pad” keep the project’s permits active until it is approved and financing is secured.
Update: December 2011
Vitol Inc., an independent energy trading company, entered into a fuel purchase contract with Medicine Bow Fuel & Power LLC on December 1, 2011. Vitol intends to purchase all of the gasoline produced at the gasification and liquification plant.
The same day, DKRW Advanced Fuels (owner of Medicine Bow Fuel & Power LLC) sent an email to Wyoming state legislators requesting a loan of up to $300 million to help pay for the construction of the plant. The company is taking advantage of a new limit on the amount it can request, up to $600 million from $100 million. Policymakers are expected to address the issue when the next legislative session begins in February.
Update: October 2011
The anticipated release date for Medicine Bow’s draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) is now uncertain, according to a schedule published by the Department of Energy on October 14, 2011.
Update: March 2011
On March 9, 2011, the Wyoming Supreme Court issued a decision upholding the air quality permit for the proposed Medicine Bow coal-to-liquids plant. The court rejected the Sierra Club’s arguments for more stringent emissions controls, finding that the DEQ properly calculated the possible emissions at the time the permit was issued.
The developer is still seeking a loan guarantee from the U.S. Department of Energy. The agency announced in December 2009 that it will conduct an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) as part of the requirements for obtaining funding. A draft EIS is expected to be released for public comment later this year.
Update: October 2010
The Wyoming Supreme Court heard oral argument for the Medicine Bow permit appeal on October 21, 2010. The Court is expected to issue a decision within four months.
Medicine Bow has not begun construction on the facility. The developer is in the process of obtaining federal funding to allow the project to move forward.
Update: September 2010
On August 23, Medicine Bow Fuel and Power and the State of Wyoming submitted their appellee's briefs to the Wyoming Supreme Court. The Sierra Club filed its reply brief on September 10. Briefing is now complete and oral argument is scheduled for October 21 in Cheyenne, WY. All briefs are available in the documents section below.
Update: July 2010
On July 6, the Sierra Club filed an appeal of the EQC decision with the Wyoming Supreme Court. The appeal argues that the air permit for the Medicine Bow coal to liquids plant fails to consider significant sulfur dioxide and fine particulate matter emissions. If successful, the lawsuit will require the plant to seek a revised air permit with more stringent pollution controls. The opening brief is available in the documents section below, and the case docket is located here.
Update: February 2010
On February 5, Wyoming Environmental Quality Council (EQC) ruled against the Sierra Club in its appeal of Medicine Bow’s final air permit. The Sierra Club is now reviewing the decision and has until March 5 to file an appeal with the Wyoming State Court. To read the EQC’s final decision, please see the documents below, or click here to view the case docket.
Update: September 2009
On September 1, the Wyoming Industrial Siting Council granted a one-year delay for DKRW Energy to work out financing for the proposed coal-to-gas plant and to begin construction on it.The construction is now scheduled to begin in December 2010.A member of the Industrial Siting Administration said that if the plant is delayed for more than a year, some of the socio-economic studies will have to be redone to include the new projects proposed in the area.
Update: May 2009
On May 1, Sierra Club filed an appeal challenging WY DEQ’s decision to grant an air permit to DKRW Energy for their proposed coal-to-gas plant. In its complaint, Sierra Club identifies numerous errors in the air permit, including a failure to regulate PM2.5 (a particularly harmful type of particulate emission) and a failure to consider the impact of the plant’s potential CO2 emissions.
Update: April 2009
Sierra Club is currently working on appealing the final air permit for this plant. Deadline for the appeal is May 1st.
Update: March 2009
On March 4, 2009, Wyoming DEQ issued the final air permit for this plant. To see a copy of the permit and DEQs responses to public comments, click on the "related information" link below.
Update: December 2008
DKRW has pushed the online date back from 2010 to 2013. They still plan to move forward even with the downturn in the economy in the past few months. Wyoming DEQ is currently working on drafting responses to comments on the construction permit.
Update: October 2008
Construction on this plant will be delayed for almost a year, according to the states Industrial Siting Council. This brings the construction date to January 2010 as opposed to the origional date of April 2009.
Update: December 2007
On December 6, 2007 the Wyoming Industrial Siting Council voted 4-1 to grant Medicine Bow Fuel and Power LLC, a project of DKRW Advanced Fuels, an industrial siting permit for their proposed coal-to-liquids coal-fired power plant. Before the plant can operate however it still needs a number of environmental permits; the air permit for this plant is expected out in early 2008.
Update: September 2007
In September, 2007 Medicine Bow Fuel & Power LLC filed an industrial siting permit application with the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality. Comments on this permit application can be filed until Ocotber 24, 2007. For more information, visit the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality's website.
Background:
In August, 2006 Medicine Bow Fuel & Power LLC announced their plans to construct a 200 megawatt coal-to-liquids power plant in Medicine Bow Wyoming. This plant is the first coal-to-liquids plant planned in the US; liquid coal, or coal that has been converted to liquid fuel, is being promoted as a cure-all to our nation’s energy problems. However, the truth is that liquid coal is plagued with economic and environmental downsides, including the fact that it releases almost double the global warming emissions per gallon as regular gasoline. Learn more about why liquid coal is a bad deal for global warming!
See Case Documents and Other Related Information
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