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Sierra Club Lawsuits

Attack on Global Warming Launched; Bush Policy on Coal Technology Targeted

Case Updates:

February 15, 2006

New dirty coal plants are a poor solution to meet our energy needs in the 21st century. And, even though new plants are unnecessary, if they are built there is certainly no excuse to burn pulverized coal when cleaner, smarter technologies exist. Recently, the Bush administration added insult to injury when it decided not to require new coal plants to use the cleanest technology. The Sierra Club sprang into action, and now has teamed up with a coalition of environmental groups to challenge the new Bush administration permitting policy that refuses to recognize integrated gasification combined cycle ("IGCC") technology as the best available technology for coal-fired power plants. IGCC is a technology that burns volatile gases instead of coal powder, thereby drastically reducing mercury and soot pollution. It is also the only current coal technology that offers the potential for capturing and sequestering carbon emissions underground (carbon capture is still in the R&D stage). If new coal plants are built, they should at least use this modern technology that may be able to control global warming pollution.

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