OIL-TO-COAL PLANT CONVERSION: A SUCCESS STORY

To the Editor:

Your editorial of Dec. 29 counsels Governor-elect Cuomo not to stop the proposed 700-megawatt Arthur Kill coal-fired generating plant. I commend you for this position and urge you to continue to push for a reduction in our region's reliance on oil.

You do make one statement, though, to which I take partial exception: ''Converting oil plants to coal is impractical; fitting them with scrubbers is often impossible or forbiddingly expensive.'' That part of this sentence addressing the feasibility and economics of scrubbers is fact, but the part regarding the impracticality of conversion from oil to coal is not fact.

Conversion from oil to coal can be accomplished at some locations without the installation of scrubbers and with great environmental and economic success.

The conversion of three electric generating units at New England Electric's Brayton Point generating station provides proof of this statement. Sulfur dioxide emissions have been cut by 20 percent and particulate emissions by nearly one-half; customer savings of over $50 million have been accomplished.

Environmental air-quality standards (both emission and ambient) were being met prior to the conversion of these units. Following the conversion, the margin by which the standards are met is even greater. The combination of a good quality of washed coal and the installation of highly efficient electrostatic precipitators has helped achieve these results.

Successful conversions, such as that at Brayton Point, may well be possible elsewhere. I hope you will support such conversions, as they have the potential to help keep electric costs to a minimum and will further reduce our nation's reliance on imported oil. GUY W. NICHOLS, President and Chief Executive Officer, New England Electric System, Westborough, Mass., Dec. 30, 1982