Read about our latest work on this campaign on our blog.
The Beyond Coal campaign’s main objective is to replace dirty coal with clean energy by mobilizing grassroots activists in local communities to advocate for the retirement of old and outdated coal plants and to prevent new coal plants from being built. Today Idaho Power generates a large percentage of our electricity in coal plants located in Nevada, Wyoming, and Oregon. On average, these coal plants consume 19.2 million pounds per day, or about 220 pounds per second and are responsibly for emitting 5.2 million metric tons of CO2 each year.
Thanks to the Sierra Club's work with Idaho utilities, our regulatory bodies, and mobilization of grassroots support we are winning the fight against coal in Idaho by advancing the retirement of Idaho’s dirty coal plants and advocating for investments in clean, renewable energy resources.
North Valmy Coal Plant: Victory!
The Idaho Chapter Sierra Club has been focused on closure of the North Valmy Coal Plant, located in Nevada, for many years. We worked as a member on Idaho Power’s Integrated Resource Plan Advisory Committee and have been pushing for an evaluation and accelarated shut down of the North Valmy Coal Plant. Subsequent economic analysis done by the Sierra Club proved that it was costing Idahoans money to keep the dirty coal buring.
We are so excited to announce that the Idaho Chapter and our coalition allies just achieved a huge Beyond Coal victory! As part of a settlement deal between Idaho Power and Sierra Club released in May 2017, Idaho Power announced its intention to close the two units of North Valmy in 2019 and 2025.