Sludge Watch ==> Ottawa pulls pollution funds for Ontario - climate changefunding issue heats up

[maureen.reilly at sympatico.ca]

Sludgewatch Admin:

There needs to be more understanding of how various disposal methods of 
sewage sludge impacts on green house gases.  Some considerations:  When you 
compost or land apply sludge ....or put it in a landfill it gives off 
greenhouse gases like methane...some figures go as high as 34 lbs per ton of 
sludge.  That makes land disposal of sludge a real issue for the production 
of climate changing green house gases.

Sludge also gives off methane and other volatile gases during the sludge 
digestion stage...gases that can be captured for heat or energy or buses 
etc...but is all too often simply flared off.

Sludge in an old fashioned incinerator...some of the hearth sludge 
burners..they use up fossil fuels and release greenhouse gases.

The newer technologies for thermal treatment, like fluidized bed, can 
utilize the sludge for heat and energy and thus displace some of the coal or 
other fossil fuels.

Companies like Minergy turn sludge into small glassified particles but can 
be heavy consumers of energy...and therefore don't score high marks for 
climate change protection.

Some, like plasma arc, seem have highish energy expenditure...but may have 
other contaminant destruction benefits.

Pelletization of sludge is  extra bad, since it releases the methane and 
other gases, and takes a huge amount of energy, and then has to be trucked 
away, often to Florida, for disposal, and can also so easily go into 
sponanteous combustion and release a whack of contaminants and gases.

Extra Long Digestion - extended anaerobic digestion has been put forward to 
manage sludge.  The gases can be utilized in a climate friendly way.

Clearly this is a very casual discussion of the climate change issues 
related to sludge.  We need to have a Technology Fair to look at the pros 
and cons of the new and old sludge technologies.

Looks like Canada's new government is sucking out on Canada's commitment to 
stop climate change.
We need to look at what we can do to address climate change problems in how 
we manage our sludges.  Environmentalists and muncipalities need to keep 
this consideration in mind as they plan wastewater management.

If anyone has good data on climate change and wastewater and sludge please 
send it along.

.................................................................

Ottawa pulls pollution funds for Ontario
by MARTIN MITTELSTAEDT and RHÉAL SÉGUIN, The Globe and Mail May 05, 2006

TORONTO, QUEBEC -- The federal government has pulled the plug on hundreds of 
millions of dollars in federal funding that was supposed to help Ontario 
phase out its high-polluting, coal-fired power plants while it concentrates 
on its "made-in-Canada" approach to fighting emissions that cause climate 
change.

Ontario officials say that Finance Minister Jim Flaherty wrote on Wednesday 
to Dwight Duncan, his provincial counterpart, informing him that at least 
$538-million the previous Liberal government pledged to help defray the 
costs of the province's actions to fight global warming were off the table.

In its place, Mr. Flaherty said the Conservatives would develop their own 
program to control emissions, and once this plan is completed, would 
negotiate a new funding arrangement. No indication was given of how much the 
province could expect, but it is unlikely to be as generous because Ottawa 
is cutting spending on climate-change programs by about 80 per cent.

"The new made-in-Canada approach to climate change will address future 
commitments," the letter said.

Ontario officials say the action breaks a funding commitment for an 
important national environmental goal. The coal phase-out is the largest 
effort in Canada to reduce greenhouse gases, and when it is complete in 
2009, would reduce emissions by up to 30 million tonnes, or the same amount 
as taking seven million cars off the road, according to Ontario estimates.

"I'm very disappointed. Climate change and clean air are among our 
government's top priorities," Ontario Environment Minister Laurel Broten 
said in an interview.

She said the province isn't wavering in its determination to shut its 
coal-fired generating stations. "Our commitment to clean air in the 
province, I have to tell you, is steadfast, but it is a challenge," she 
said.

The federal money was to have come from a five-year partnership the two 
governments announced in May, 2005. Under this deal, the previous Liberal 
administration pledged to give $5.75-billion to Ontario for a range of 
programs, including higher education, housing, new infrastructure, climate 
change and other priorities.

In his letter, Mr. Flaherty gave a thumbs-up to such items as labour-market 
development, infrastructure and immigration programs because they "address 
long-standing concerns of Ontario regarding equitable treatment."

But he said he was shelving the money for higher education, housing and 
climate change because the agreement in these areas "went beyond 
long-standing concerns of Ontario and into areas of concern for all 
provinces and territories."

Mr. Flaherty maintained in the letter that he was delivering on federal 
commitments to Ontario "in an open, fair and principled manner."

Mr. Flaherty, a former Ontario cabinet minister, could not be reached for 
comment.

Ontario officials believe the federal action could have a national impact if 
it slows efforts to expand electricity-transmission ties with Quebec and 
Manitoba.

Manitoba is looking to build more hydroelectric plants and double the 
capacity of its transmission line into Ontario by 2009. Both provinces have 
been counting on federal support.

A spokesperson for the Manitoba government said it has not received an 
indication from Ottawa of its priorities on climate change.

Quebec Environment Minister Claude Béchard said yesterday that he is 
negotiating an agreement with Ottawa for financial compensation for the 
province's efforts to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.

"In recent discussions with my federal counterpart, Rona Ambrose, Ottawa has 
agreed to recognize what we have done in the past and what will be done in 
the future," Mr. Béchard said.

Quebec unveiled a new energy strategy yesterday to develop 4,500 megawatts 
of hydroelectric power and another 4,000 megawatts of wind power over the 
next 10 years. Premier Jean Charest said the plan will reduce greenhouse 
gases, but gave no indication that the federal government will contribute to 
it.

Last November, the Quebec government refused to sign a $328-million 
agreement on climate change with the former Liberal government after talks 
broke down over who would determine how the money was spent.

However, Quebec has built a harmonious relationship with the new 
Conservative government that could translate into financial help for 
projects aimed at reducing greenhouse-gas emissions.