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Sierra Club Lawsuits

Out West, a Major Source of Pollution Bites the Dust

Case Updates:

May 23, 2007

In a monumental win for clean air, fresh water, and global warming, the Mohave Generating Station in Laughlin, Nevada is now officially dead. This 1580 megawatt coal-fired plant emitted close to 10 million tons of carbon dioxide and 40,000 tons of sulfur dioxide each year, making it the dirtiest coal-fired power plant in the West. In addition, operations of the plant required 1.3 billion gallons annually of pristine, fresh water from an ancient Navajo aquifer.

A 1998 Clean Air Act lawsuit brought by the Sierra Club, Grand Canyon Trust and NPCA forced the plant to cease operations in December 2005, however since this date the plant has remained in limbo while the owners, led by Southern California Edison, tried to sell it and negotiate a restart of its operations. Now, nearly 17 months later, owners of the plant have finally admitted that it is officially no more.

The official closure of this major polluter has significant implications: the Grand Canyon's visibility is improved; the residents of Laughlin, NV and Bullhead City, AZ are breathing easier; the water supply of Hopi and Navajo steams, villages, and farms is no longer threatened; and a major source of global warming pollution is gone.

The Sierra Club continues to work with its partners to advocate the Just Transition proposal before the California Public Utilities Commission which will provide clean energy jobs to the Hopi and Navajo communities around the plant . The plan calls for establishing a renewable energy infrastructure of solar and wind operations that would be partially owned by tribal communities; learn more about Just Transition here. 

Details and Documents:

Mohave Sale, Restart Dead
May 23, 2007, by Kathy Helms, Gallup Independent

Station won't be revived
May 23, 2007, by Jim Maniaci, Mohave Daily News