coal - washington
The TransAlta coal plant is the largest source of global warming pollution in Washington State. It's also the largest source of toxic mercury pollution, which is especially dangerous to children and future mothers, and is responsible for haze pollution which destroys the beauty of 12 wilderness areas, including Mt. Rainier.We can do better. We can replace coal with clean, renewable forms of energy like wind, solar and efficiency that will create jobs and reduce global warming. Washington can be a national leader on clean energy.
On June 22, the Department of Ecology announced that they were finalizing a pollution agreement that they had reached with the TransAlta coal plant. The agreement, which focuses on mercury and nitrogen-oxide pollution from the coal plant, does not do enough to protect public health. This is the third time in the last six months in which the state has chosen to protect TransAlta’s profits at the expense of the public good. Right now, Governor Gregoire is negotiating with TransAlta to come up with a plan to transition the state off of coal power, but has said that she wants to wait until 2025 for the plan to go into effect. Facts about mercury and coal: The TransAlta coal plant is the state’s largest source of mercury pollution, which causes brain damage in unborn babies and new-born infants. Mercury is extremely toxic. Children, infants and fetuses are most vulnerable to this known neurotoxin. Mercury exposure causes developmental delay, permanent loss on intelligence, and clinical impairment on neurodevelopmental scales. Governor Gregoire has asked the coal plant to cut its mercury pollution in half, but that is unenforceable and falls short of the pollution controls needed to protect public health. Many states require coal plants to cut 90% of their mercury pollution, and the US Government Accountability Project has found that this is affordable and achievable in Washington too. Pollution from the TransAlta coal plant creates significant health impacts, including asthma, lung cancer and other respiratory issues. Governor Gregoire needs to stand up for public health and start working to transition Washington off coal by 2015.
On June 22, the Department of Ecology announced that they were finalizing a pollution agreement that they had reached with the TransAlta coal plant. The agreement, which focuses on mercury and nitrogen-oxide pollution from the coal plant, does not do enough to protect public health. This is the third time in the last six months in which the state has chosen to protect TransAlta’s profits at the expense of the public good. Right now, Governor Gregoire is negotiating with TransAlta to come up with a plan to transition the state off of coal power, but has said that she wants to wait until 2025 for the plan to go into effect.
Facts about mercury and coal:
It’s time to tell Governor Gregoire that she needs to start doing better, because we can’t hold our breath for 15 more years of coal pollution.Click here to take action.
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