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Club Helps Win Fight to Protect Michigan from Massive Manistee Power Plant
Case Updates:
October 13, 2005
Manistee residents are celebrating now that a federal judge has thrown out a $59 million lawsuit against the town filed by Tondu Corporation, which had sought to construct a polluting coal-fired power plant in the town. After a series of public meetings about a new coal-fired power plant in this small community, local officials decided to reject Tondu’s permit application over concerns for public health and the future of the town. However, not satisfied with this common sense decision, the company launched a lawsuit against the town to recover “damages” for the rejection. In his ruling dismissing the case, the judge found that Tondu failed to prove that the city had singled out Tondu and discriminated against the company but not others in the land use permit process. Sierra Club joined the lawsuit late last year as a friend of the court to support Manistee and local residents.
September 2, 2004
The Bush administration’s energy policies have come to roost in the town of Manistee, Michigan in the form of a $100 million lawsuit brought by the disappointed proponent of a polluting coal power plant. Texas-based Tondu Corporation recently filed a lawsuit filed against Manistee seeking huge monetary damages because the town denied them approval of the massive power plant. Tondu promoted the project even though Michigan has excess power capacity. The city denied the necessary permits for the plant out of concern over the coal plant’s massive intrusion on this small Lake Michigan community.
Tondu planned to fuel the facility with coal shipped into Michigan from Wyoming, a mainstay of Vice President Cheney’s energy policy that was developed behind closed doors. The construction of the massive plant would put residents of Western Michigan at risk from dangerous mercury pollution and create huge problems for the area’s prized fisheries. Sierra Club has been supporting Manistee residents in this important struggle and recently took steps to join the lawsuit to assist the city of Manistee and keep the citizens of Manistee safe.
Details and Documents:
Judge tosses Tondu-Manistee suit
October 14, 2005, by John Flesher, Traverse City Record Eagle
Sierra Club Seeks to Join Manistee in Tondu Lawsuit
September 16, 2004, by Kevin Braciszeski, Ludington Daily News
Sierra Club to Join Fight to Protect Manistee from Massive Power Plant
September 15, 2004 Sierra Club Press Release
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