The Dirty Truth Behind Coal

A message from Sierra Club Director of Conservation Greg Haegele:
America's challenge: Lead the world in the creation of a new energy economy. We can do it. The question is how? By investing in wind, solar, and other renewable energy. By implementing clean and efficient transportation solutions. By restructuring energy markets to favor innovation, clean energy, creation of green jobs, and efficient energy use — not the dinosaur big oil, coal, and gas corporations of last century. We can't afford to continue with business as usual. If the 100-plus coal plants currently proposed are built, the global warming pollution pumped into our air will make all our other efforts to reverse climate change irrelevant. Learn more...

Stopping the Coal Rush

The Sierra Club's Environmental Law Program Fights the Coal Fight.

Google Map: Proposed Coal Plants
Find out where new and recent coal-fired power plants are located, and research ones the Sierra Club's legal program is currently challenging. See the map.

Database of Proposed Coal Plants
The Sierra Club's Environmental Law Program maintains this database with status information about proposed coal plants across the country.
See the list.

The Truth about Coal

Coal is one of the dirtiest sources of energy, jeopardizing our health and our environment.

Exposed: Coal Industry Ads
Get the facts behind the coal industry's massive $30 million deceptive advertising and public relations campaign. See the ads.

Mountaintop Removal Mining
This destructive practice contaminates drinking water supplies, destroys streams, and permanently damages the ecosystem and landscape. Find out more.

Coal on Sierra Club Radio

The Sierra Club's not the only one talking about coal. Listen to what Governor Crist, Jeff Goodell and Governor Sebelius have to say about coal's role in our energy future on Sierra Club Radio. Listen now.

Interactive: The Truth About Coal

Coal is one of the most polluting sources of energy available, jeopardizing our health and our environment. Using coal for electricity scars lungs, tears up the land, pollutes water, devastates communities, and makes global warming worse.

Learn about the damage coal does to land, air, water, and people with our interactive graphic.