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Kentucky Air Safeguarded from Pollution at Thoroughbred Plant
Case Updates:
August 9, 2005
Local citizens and environmentalists are celebrating a victory that will require the use of state-of-the-art pollution controls at a proposed coal-fired power plant near Mammoth Cave in Kentucky. On August 9, a State Hearing Officer recommended that Peabody Coal revise its plans for the massive 1500 megawatt Thoroughbred plant. In her findings, Janet Thompson concluded that the company should incorporate better pollution controls into the design of the plant which will reduce air pollution, acid rain, and mercury pollution. The good news comes in the wake of a new scientific report showing that wildlife in nearby Mammoth Cave have seriously elevated levels of mercury, a finding that shows the health of local citizens is already at risk from mercury without the addition of another dirty coal plant. Sierra Club and its allies have been urging Peabody to propose a cleaner coal plant with modern pollution control technology since 2001. The Thoroughbred plant is one of the first of over 100 planned new coal-fired plants in the nation, and today’s ruling bodes well for ensuring new power plants will install stringent environmental protections that will help to reduce the associated health impacts.
Details and Documents:
Hearing Officer's Report and Recommended Secretary's Order
August 9, 2005, Commonwealth of Kentucky, Environmental and Public Protection Cabin
Toxic Air; State should recheck power plant's permit
August 11, 2005, Editorial, The Lexington Herald-Leader
Cleanest possible coal
August 11, 2005, Editorial, The Courier Journal
Muhlenberg power plant's permit in jeopardy; Hearing officer says issues need study
August 10, 2005, by James Bruggers, The Courier-Journal
Hearing officer urges re-evaluation of air permit for power plant
August 9, 2005, by Bruce Shreiner, Associated Press
Contaminated BATS? Mercury found in animals at Mammoth Cave
August 7, 2005, by James Bruggers, The Courier-Journal
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See other "Stopping the Coal Rush" cases.