coal

Ohio Nuclear Bailout Bill Expands to Now Also Bail Out Eisenhower Era Uneconomic Coal Plants - Moves out of Committee

Ohio Clean Air Program” anything but clean

With Cost-Benefits Memo, Wheeler Tries to Institutionalize Allowing Polluters to Poison People

esterday, media outlets reported that former coal lobbyist and EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler sent a memo to several EPA offices, directing them to change how they calculate cost and benefits for environmental protection in an effort to undercut the agency’s use of peer reviewed science in the development of new rules.

Thousands Support Smog Pollution Regulation Through Comments

Albany, N.Y.— Eleven various organization submitted comments today supporting the Department of Environmental Conservation’s (DEC) efforts to decrease dangerous smog pollution downstate. Last week, DEC hosted three public hearings in Albany, New York City and Long Island on new nitrous oxide (NOx) pollution limits for over 40“peaker” gas plants, located across Long Island and New York City. “Peakers” only run during times of peak energy demand a handful of days a year, but they emit enormous amounts of toxic pollutants into our air -- harming New Yorkers health and leaving downstate New York with some of the worst air quality in the country.

Andrew Wheeler is Trying to Hide 1,400 Deaths a Year to Help His Former Coal Industry Clients

Clean air experts sounded the alarm today as the New York Times reported that former coal lobbyist and EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler plans to abandon peer-reviewed science in order to sell the Trump Administration’s Dirty Power Plan, its attempt to roll back the Clean Power Plan.

Xcel Energy agrees to coal plant retirements, historic clean energy commitment in agreement with clean energy groups and labor

Today, Sierra Club, Fresh Energy, Union of Concerned Scientists, Center for Energy and Environment, Minnesota Center for Environmental Advocacy, Clean Grid Alliance, LIUNA (Laborers’ International Union of North America) Minnesota and North Dakota, and Xcel Energy filed an agreement with the Minnesota Public Utilities Commission (MNPUC) that proposes retirement dates for Xcel’s remaining coal units and includes historic investments in solar energy and energy efficiency.

New York State Officially Coal-Free by 2020

Albany, N.Y.— The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) signed a finalized regulation today that will fully eliminate coal in New York by 2020. This regulation, years in the making and overwhelmingly supported by the public, is the first of its kind in the nation. The removal of coal-fired power is a critical step for the state to reach its goal of a 100 percent greenhouse gas emissions reductions in the electric sector by 2040.

Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal Campaign Reaches Major Milestones

The Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign reached two major milestones this week with the announced retirements of the CD McIntosh coal plant in Lakeland, Florida and the Utah Power Plant in Magna, Utah.

Washington’s 100 Percent Clean Electricity Bill Becomes Law

SEATTLE, WA—Today, Senate Bill 5116 was signed into law in Washington by Governor Jay Inslee after passing the state legislature earlier this month. This bill cuts out coal power by 2025 and requires an equitable transition to 100 percent clean electricity for the entire state by 2045.

Legislators Pass Bill to Look Out for Rural Electric Consumers and Fossil Fuel Workers

Today, Colorado lawmakers approved legislation that would reauthorize and modernize the way the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) oversees our utilities.

Shareholders and Customers to Protest WEC Annual Meeting

A group of WEC Energy Group shareholders, customers, and climate advocates will gather prior to the holding company’s annual meeting to demonstrate and make statements about their concerns over the financial liabilities of burning coal and other fossil fuels. The WEC Energy Group annual shareholders’ meeting is Thursday, May 2, from 10:00-11:00 am in the R. John Buuck Field House at the Concordia University-Mequon campus. Those going to the annual meeting have been instructed to park at nearby Marcus North Shore Cinema and take a shuttle provided by WEC. Participants in this public demonstration event will gather on the sidewalk in front of the northwest corner of the parking lot at 8:30 am and then demonstrate along the shuttle route.

Andrew Wheeler Rips Open Loophole for Companies to Pollute Vulnerable Communities with Impunity

Former coal lobbyist and EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler delivered his draft plan today to the federal register to reopen the Startup, Shutdown, Malfunction (SSM) loopholes in Texas, which would allow dirty industrial facilities to release massive amounts of dangerous pollution generally not allowed under the Clean Air Act onto vulnerable communities. The SSM loopholes have been decried by public health and environmental justice organizations as an irresponsible and dangerous giveaway to polluters that threatens the health of low income and communities of color.

County Board Votes Unanimously to Condemn We Energies’ Mercury Variance

On Thursday, the Milwaukee County Board voted unanimously in support of a resolution opposing We Energies’ request to the DNR for a mercury variance in their discharge water from the Oak Creek-Elm Road coal plants. The proposed variance in the DNR’s draft permit would allow We Energies to discharge water tainted with mercury at up to three times the state standard into Lake Michigan.