EPA's plan to reduce regional haze in Oklahoma
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) proposed a Federal Implementation Plan to improve visibility and protect human health by reducing pollution from three of Oklahoma’s oldest coal-fired power plants. The Clean Air Act requires states to take steps to modernize pollution controls of older power plants to meet regional haze requirements. Because Oklahoma failed to abide by minimum federal requirements on the issue, EPA implemented the federal standard that is set to take effect later this year.
A Federal Implementation Plan (FIP) is proposed by the EPA when a State Implementation Plan (SIP) does not adequately address Clean Air Act requirements. The EPA has proposed to partially approve and partially disapprove a revision to the Oklahoma State Implementation Plan submitted by the State of Oklahoma through the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality on February 19, 2010. Because the EPA found that Oklahoma’s proposed plan did not meet the federal requirements, EPA proposed its rules requiring that Oklahoma coal plants, and others, reduce pollution like sulfur dioxide.
Rather than spend millions on pollution controls the Oklahoma Chapter of the Sierra Club calls upon Oklahoma Gas and Electric (OG&E) and Public Service Company of Oklahoma (PSO) to meet clean air requirements by setting a strict, short-term timeline to phase out the use of their coal fired units.
Pollution control technology only lessens the mercury, sulfur and other toxic chemicals emitted from coal, it cannot eliminate it totally. To do that, Oklahomans must demand cleaner sources for their electricity.
Residents of Oklahoma would rather see the state become leader in a clean energy economy, than invest billions of taxpayer dollars to control only a partial amount of the pollution created by coal plants.
Oklahomans have been paying the true costs of coal with their health for far too long. Transitioning to a combined use of energy efficiency, renewable energy and natural gas will create jobs and save money in the long term.
Read a summary and complete proposal from the EPA
Read more on Sierra Club's position in local newspaper articles:
Relying on coal a bad idea for Oklahoma
Business Q&A: Sierra Club's Whitney Pearson
Oklahoma energy leaders criticize EPA proposal to reduce pollution
From The Associated Press