Arkansas Beyond Coal

Arkansas is fighting to keep its air and water resources clean for its residents' public health along with protecting pristine spaces for canoeing, hiking, hunting, and fishing.  Some of the largest threats to the Natural State's fragile ecosystems are coal fired power plants that spew toxins into the air and millions of pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.  The soot's mercury winds up in the fish we pull out of streams, and the carbon dioxide wreaks havoc on weather patterns causing them to be more extreme.  If SWEPCO has its way, then the Turk power plant in southwestern Arkansas would become operational, taking us one step closer to making these harmful environmental effects irreversible.  That is why the Beyond Coal Campaign in Arkansas is fighting vigorously to stop the Turk plant before it is too late.  Not only is our Campaign's focus on stopping construction of new plants like Turk, but also to phase out the existing plants and replace them with alternative fuel sources.  The White Bluff Plant is a case where it would make much more sense to switch to an alternative fuels plant, such as one run on natural gas, than to invest in a scrubber retrofit that is costly, with a price tag of over $1 billion.

Status Update:  Arkansas high court to review SWEPCO plant case

http://www.star-telegram.com/448/story/1704168.html

Posted Thursday, Oct. 22, 2009

By JILL ZEMAN BLEED

Associated Press Writer

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - The Arkansas Supreme Court said Thursday it will review a case involving Southwestern Electric Power Company's planned coal-fired power plant in south Arkansas.  

The state Court of Appeals had overturned a permit that was issued by the Arkansas Public Service Commission for the $1.6 billion John W. Turk Jr. plant in Hempstead County. SWEPCO appealed that decision, and now the Arkansas Supreme Court is going to review the case.

The Appeals Court ruling, issued in June, said the Public Service Commission's process for considering such permits has been flawed. If upheld, the ruling would require the plant to start that process over.

SWEPCO said Thursday it was pleased the high court was to review the case.

"This is an important case - both for the Turk Plant and for the process used to approve major utility projects in Arkansas for more than 30 years," said Paul Chodak, SWEPCO's president and chief operating officer. "We believe the record in the case will show that the approval process was correct and that the Turk Plant approval should stand."

SWEPCO said that as of Sept. 30, about $830 million had been spent on the Turk project.

Opponents have argued that the plant would violate the federal Clean Air Act.

"The SWEPCO power plant would spew millions of tons of pollutants and poisons into our air, water, and bodies every year for the next 40 to 50 years," said Glen Hooks, regional director for the Sierra Club's Beyond Coal Campaign. "More than 100 proposed coal-fired power plants across the country have been stopped or abandoned in the last few years. They are a clear danger for our state and nation, and we look forward to the court closely examining the issue."

SWEPCO said the plant will use "ultra-supercritical" advanced coal combustion technology that will use less coal and produce fewer emissions, compared with traditional pulverized coal plants.

"It will be one of the cleanest, most efficient coal-fueled plants in the United States," Chodak said.

The Arkansas Supreme Court has not yet said how it will proceed in the case and whether it will accept briefs or hold oral arguments.

Press Releases

• 2009.10.23
  White Bluff Hearing at ADEQ Nov. 17, 2009

See all press releases

Take Action

Join 350 for a rally this Saturday!

This Saturday is a global day of action to fight climate change.  In Little Rock's MacArthur Park there will be a rally and concert from 2-5 p.m.  State Representative Kathy Webb will be the keynote speaker.  Glen Hooks, Regional Director, Sierra Club, will talk about coal and climate change.  Thompson Murray, Senior Pastor, Quapaw Quarter United Methodist Church, will talk about creation care.

Conway , Fayetteville, and Eureka Springs will also host 350 events http://www.350.org

WHITE BLUFF COAL FIRED PLANT HEARING NOVEMBER 17

The Arkansas Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ) will have a public hearing about a proposed scrubber for the White Bluff Plant on November 17, 2009 at 6:00 p.m. at the American Legion Post 343 at 800 Mark Twain Blvd, Redfield, AR 72132.  The period for written public comments is open now and will close on November 24. To learn more about the White Bluff scrubber application, visit the ADEQ website at www.adeq.state.ar.us, and click under the section "Hot Topics."

"COAL COUNTRY" DOCUMENTARY

Join a nationwide action by hosting a House Party for the screening of the new documentary "Coal Country" during the week of November 10-14.  Contact Lev at lev.guter@sierraclub.org to sign up.

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