Challenging a Coal Plant in Rogers City
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
ELPC is partnering with the Sierra Club, Michigan Environmental Council, and Michigan Land Use Institute to investigate Wolverine Power Cooperative’s plans to build a 600-megawatt circulating fluidized bed boiler (CFB) coal plant in Rogers City, Michigan. Wolverine submitted an air permit application in September 2007, followed by numerous supplements. The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality (MDEQ) declared the application complete in late spring 2008, sent draft permit conditions to Wolverine in mid-May, and anticipates noticing a draft permit in late June. We have retained an engineering expert to analyze the application, and have received input from an air quality and public health expert from the University of Michigan’s School of Public Health; future plans include retention of an air quality modeling expert to assess potential claims. Also, ELPC assisted local and state organizers in preparing for a local zoning board meeting to challenge Wolverine’s land use permit based on plans to burn petroleum coke and solid municipal waste in addition to coal. The land use challenge is on-going.
As new coal plant units are proposed and enter the permitting phase, ELPC is acting as a regional watchdog to identify potential new permit challenges and gaps in legal coverage.
ELPC attorneys also continue to work with the Michigan Land Use Institute and the Michigan Environmental Council to promote reform of the transportation planning process through the adoption of Context-Sensitive Design policies, and with local community groups in Detroit to challenge the proposed Detroit Intermodal Freight Terminal (DIFT). The DIFT proposed by the Michigan Department of Transportation would likely increase air pollution and truck traffic significantly in a neighborhood that is already subjected to these harms. This increase in pollution and traffic, along with the displacement of homes and businesses required by the DIFT, would threaten the healthy development that has been taking place in this corner of Detroit - the only neighborhood where population has been increasing and community revitalization has been really taking hold.
ELPC believes the Michigan DOT’s Draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the project fails to adequately analyze the air pollution-related health impacts and environmental justice impacts, does not objectively consider no-expansion alternatives, and neglects to address possible strategies for mitigating the impacts of the DIFT. ELPC will continue to monitor the situation and work with local allies, such as Arab Community Center for Economic and Social Services (ACCESS) and the Ecology Center, to determine the appropriate next steps.
Tags: Michigan
