2009.09.29 Press Release
Sierra Club Seeks to Join Westar Air Pollution Lawsuit
Contact: Bob Eye, Sierra Club attorney, 785.234.4040
Stephanie Cole, Kansas Sierra Club, 402.984.1122
Joanne Spalding, Sierra Club attorney, 415.977.5725
Sierra Club Announces Intent to Intervene in Westar Air Pollution Case; National Day of Action Highlights Grassroots Movement against Coal
Lawrence, Kan.--- Before a large crowd of activists, the Sierra Club announced today its intent to intervene in the Clean Air Act enforcement action filed against Westar Energy by the US Department of Justice. In conjunction with a National Day of Action calling for the cleaning up of coal plants, the Kansas Sierra Club declared it would ask the courts to consider requiring modern pollution controls for regulated pollutants at Westar's Jeffrey Energy Center in St. Marys, a community 35 miles west of Topeka. "Kansans have already demonstrated we won't stand for new, unneeded coal plants, and we will continue to oppose these projects, but now the time has arrived to address pollution from existing coal plants," said Stephanie Cole of the Kansas Sierra Club. The DOJ alleges that Westar's Jeffrey Energy Center has been illegally operating without modern pollution controls. "By law, Westar was required to upgrade pollution controls at the Jeffrey Energy Center when it made other updates to the facility," said Bob Eye, Sierra Club attorney. "By failing to do so, Westar has been producing significant and dangerous amounts of air pollution for years," said Eye.
In its complaint, DOJ charges that illegal amounts of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide and particulate matter have resulted from a failure to operate the facility with modern technology to reduce air emissions. Coal-fired power plants are among the nation's largest sources of these pollutants which contribute to soot, ozone smog and acid rain. These pollutants lead to increased respiratory illness, mortality and environmental damage. "The health impacts of particulate matter are extensive and increase asthma attacks, heart attacks, and hospitalizations," said John Neusewander of the American Lung Association. Very fine particles, known as PM2.5, are particularly dangerous. In addition to supporting the claims raised by the DOJ, Sierra Club will assert that Westar Energy must apply the latest pollution controls to reduce PM2.5 emissions. Upgrades to the plant can also have the benefit of reducing carbon dioxide emissions. Extensive, solid science indicates carbon dioxide is contributing to global warming. Earlier this year the US Environmental Protection Agency proposed an endangerment finding that states that global warming, caused by greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide, threatens public health and welfare. "The Jeffrey Energy Center is a large source of carbon dioxide emissions, and we believe that there are significant efficiencies to be gained by upgrading the equipment at these aging coal units," said Craig Volland, Sierra Club technical advisor. "This would reduce carbon dioxide emissions and improve general air quality," Volland said.
At the event, Sierra Club was joined by public heath advocates, students, and concerned citizens. Speakers expressed concern for the many pollutants associated with coal plants, such as mercury, particulate pollution, and carbon dioxide. "For GPACE, this all comes down to risk management. How well are we managing the enormous health and economic risks from all the coal we burn?" said Scott Allegrucci, director of the Great Plains Alliance for Clean Energy.
Contact: Bob Eye, Sierra Club attorney, 785.234.4040
Stephanie Cole, Kansas Sierra Club, 402.984.1122
Joanne Spalding, Sierra Club attorney, 415.977.5725