Friday, March 6, 2009
In this editorial, the Des Moines register welcomed the decision by Interstate Power and Light to cancel plans for a new coal plant in Marshalltown, Iowa. The editorial rightly points out that coal is the leading cause of global warming pollution and spending huge amounts of money on a new plant would tie Iowa to a dirty and inceasingly expnsive source of energy.
The editors echoed ELPC’s call for the Iowa Utilities Board to require a strong efficiency plan from the utility Investing in renewable energy and energy efficiency will create jobs, save money, reduce pollution and eliminate the need for an expensive new coal plant.
Read the editorial here.
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm announced a plan to limit coal power and promote more renewable energy in Michigan during her State of the State address. Granholm called for a 45 percent reduction in fossil fuels by 2020 in order to bring more innovation and jobs to Michigan.
ELPC Senior Attorney Faith Bugel is the lead counsel on the permit review for the Wolverine coal plant. Bugel wrote comments reviewing the flaws in the permit application and shared them with the Governor’s office. She cited failures at the federal, state and permit level, including the need to limit CO2 and fine particulates, and to seek cleaner alternatives according to the Michigan Environmental Protection Act.
“One month ago, we stood before the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality and called upon Michigan officials to lead the state into the next century by demanding cleaner alternatives to coal power,” said Bugel. “We’re thrilled with the Governor’s announcement today. Michigan is ready to take action to protect the health of its citizens and to be a leader on global warming solutions.”
Read Greenwire’s article on the announcement.
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Wednesday, January 7, 2009
ELPC joined Michigan residents, Native American leaders and environmental groups on January 6 in their call to stop plans for a new coal-fired power plant in Rogers City, MI. Addressing Governor Jennifer Granholm and the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality, the advocates explained that pollution from the proposed plant would endanger the health of Michigan residents and would significantly increase greenhouse gas emissions. Investing in clean energy and energy efficiency is an alternative that could help Michigan meet its energy needs while creating new jobs, saving money and protecting the environment.
The Rogers City plant is one of 8 new coal plants planned for Michigan. This ‘coal rush’ poses a serious threat to the Michigan’s environmental quality and the health of its citizens. As ELPC Senior Attorney Faith Bugel said, the proposal “is not about one permit for one plant. … This is Michigan’s time to decide. Will this state move forward into the 21st century and say that it is demanding better, cleaner options for its citizens?” Read more coverage of the event here.
Public health experts from Michigan State University and the University of Michigan explain the dangerous health effects of coal plants in this editorial.
Monday, September 15, 2008
ELPC achieved a significant victory on September 12th when the U.S. EPA granted key claims in our petition regarding Kentucky’s issuance of an air permit for LG&E’s newest coal plant. The plant, Trimble County 2, will emit huge amounts of global warming pollution, as well as the pollutants mercury, sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides. ELPC attorneys Faith Bugel and Meleah Geertsma represent the Sierra Club, Save the Valley and Valley Watch in the challenge.
We argued–and U.S. EPA agreed–that the plant is required to include all periods of operation when setting pollution limits under the Clean Air Act. The permit must now be rewritten by the state agency to comply with the U.S. EPA’s decision. A new and more stringent permit will result in better air quality for the state of Kentucky and most particularly for those residents living in close proximity to the new plant. ELPC will continue to scrutinize the permitting process and bring future challenges should there be any additional areas in which a new draft of the permit fails to meet Clean Air Act requirements.
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Despite advances in renewable energy, the nation still depends on coal-fired power plants for more than half of its electricity. Coal combustion produces smog, soot, acid rain, the neurotoxin mercury, and is the largest single source of carbon dioxide emissions, a leading cause of global warming. A loophole in the Clean Air Act allows existing power plants to avoid installing modern pollution controls. ELPC is working with numerous environmental groups, state governments and others to require aging coal-fired power plants to install these modern technologies.
Learn more about our work to curtail dirty coal plants.
Wednesday, May 21, 2008
Despite advances in renewable energy, the nation still depends on coal-fired power plants for more than half of its electricity. Coal combustion produces smog, soot, acid rain, the neurotoxin mercury, and is the largest single source of carbon dioxide emissions, a leading cause of global warming. A loophole in the Clean Air Act allows existing power plants to avoid installing modern pollution controls. ELPC is working with numerous environmental groups, state governments and others to require aging coal-fired power plants to install these modern technologies
ELPC is providing legal representation and technical analysis coordination for a coalition of environmental and civic groups opposing the requested permits for the proposed new Wolverine coal plant near Rogers City, Michigan. We need more clean wind power and energy efficiency to replace polluting coal plants, not to just supplement more new coal plants
We also are working to reduce pollution from the Fisk and Crawford coal plants, as well as other plants owned by Midwest Generation in Chicago. Our legal challenges have been moving through the courts over the past year.
At the same time, ELPC, the Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago, the Natural Resources Defense Council and other environmental groups represented by the Chicago Legal Clinic have entered negotiations over violations at all of Midwest Generation’s plants. We are also participating in proceedings before the Illinois Pollution Control Board that seek to weaken the state’s rule controlling mercury from coal-fired power plants.
Demanding Stricter Pollution Standards for New Coal Plants
In Kentucky, ELPC represents the Kentucky Chapter of the Sierra Club and two other Kentucky organizations, Save the Valley and Valley Watch, in a challenge to a Prevention of Significant Deterioration/Title V air permit issued to Louisville Gas and Electric.
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.
