coal

To Hold Polluters Accountable, Sierra Club Launches Major Campaign Exposing Dirty Truth About Utility Climate Pledges

Washington, D.C. — Utilities are trying to greenwash their climate commitments — and a new ad campaign by Sierra Club holds these polluters accountable.

Sierra Club Statement on PSC Commissioner Conflict of Interest Hearing

The Dane County Circuit Court held a hearing today to hear testimony on former Public Service Commissioner Mike Huebsch’s potential conflict of interest when he voted to approve the proposed $700 million Nemadji Trail Energy Center (NTEC) gas plant in Superior, Wisconsin. These issues came to light when it was revealed that, shortly after Huebsch voted to approve the controversial gas plant in January, 2020, he applied for the open position of CEO at Dairyland Power Cooperative, one of two utilities who filed the application. In the hearing, Sierra Club elicited testimony demonstrating that Commissioner Huebsch, in voting to approve a major project for a utility he sought employment from soon thereafter, and one of whose high level executives he had a close personal relationship, was exposed to undue pressure to approve the project, which would have impacted any reasonable person in his position.

Governor Abbott’s Demands Would Leave Texas more Polluted and Texans in the Dark

AUSTIN, TX -- Earlier this week, Governor Abbott released a letter to the Public Utility Commission of Texas (PUC) and the Electric Reliability Council of Texas (ERCOT), demanding changes that Abbott falsely claims will ”increase power generation capacity and to ensure the reliability of the Texas power grid.” Unfortunately, Abbott’s letter promotes polluting, unreliable fossil fuels, attacks safer clean energy options, and ignores solutions that would actually benefit everyday Texans.

Settlement agreement means major reduction in Dominion Energy’s bid to increase customers’ rates

Sierra Club and multiple partners in South Carolina have reached a settlement agreement that cuts Dominion Energy’s request to raise customers’ rates by 87 percent and gains a commitment from Dominion not to seek additional rate increases until January 2024 at the earliest.

Local Advocates Respond to DTE Energy Waste Reduction Plans

Today, DTE Energy filed its electric and gas energy efficiency (referred to in Michigan as “energy waste reduction”) plans with the Michigan Public Service Commission to reduce energy waste in its service territory. Through the process mandated by state law, Michigan utilities must file plans to allocate resources that improve energy efficiency and reduce wasted electricity in their service territory. DTE is required to deliver customers at least 2% energy savings annually, following the outcome of their most recent Integrated Resource Plan. As Michigan’s largest utility, DTE serves millions of customers and how it funds and prioritizes energy efficiency spending could have huge impacts on the communities affected.

Missourians Deserve an Independent Watchdog at Missouri Department of Natural Resources

St. Louis, MO -- The Missouri Department of Natural Resources (DNR) needs to withdraw and rewrite the draft water pollution permit for Ameren’s Labadie coal plant so it complies with the Clean Water Act (CWA). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) should intervene if DNR refuses to enforce federal laws like the CWA. This is the message that concerned citizens will send to the DNR during a virtual public hearing for the draft permit tonight. 

Opaque Coal Creek Sale May Leave Minnesotans Stuck With More Expensive Coal

MAPLE GROVE, MN -- Earlier today, Great River Energy (GRE) announced that the utility would be selling its Coal Creek Station power plant to Rainbow Energy Center instead of retiring it as planned.

Xcel Energy Drops Plans to Build Gas Plant and Pipeline in Becker

ST. PAUL -- Earlier today, Xcel Energy announced that it will drop its plans to construct a new 800 MW fossil gas plant, known as the Sherco combined cycle gas plant. Xcel included the gas plant in their most recent proposed integrated resource plan (IRP), filed in June 2020.

South Carolina Regulators Approve New Dominion Energy Plan That Accelerates Coal Retirements

The South Carolina Public Service Commission has (PSC) approved Dominion Energy’s modified 2020 long-term energy plan, which will accelerate coal plant retirements in South Carolina.

Groups send notice of intent to sue OSMRE over failure to ensure individuals can get replacement drinking water when theirs is contaminated

CHARLESTON -- Today, the Sierra Club, Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition, and West Virginia Highlands Conservancy sent a notice of intent to sue (NOI) to the Office of Surface Mining, Reclamation, and Enforcement (OSMRE). The notice alleges that OSMRE has failed to take action under the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act (SMCRA) to clarify the options available to community members who believe their drinking water has been harmed by coal mining. 

Indian River Coal Plant Committed to Retire by 2022

DOVER -- On Thursday, June 17th, utility company NRG announced its commitment to retire the final and largest coal boiler at the Indian River power plant by 2022. The 410 megawatt unit in Dagsboro, Delaware will retire just as the state recently enacted major legislation to increase its renewable energy commitment from 25 percent to 40 percent by 2035. The retirement of the final coal-fired unit at the Indian River Plant will move Delaware, President Joe Biden’s home state, completely beyond coal-fired generation within the state.

NRG Energy Moves to Retire the Will County 4 Coal-Fired Power Plant in Romeoville

This morning, NRG Energy revealed its intention to retire the Will County Generating Station in Romeoville in June 2022. This announcement comes after more than two decades of advocacy from local environmental group Citizens Against Ruining the Environment (CARE), which is an entirely volunteer-led grassroots nonprofit founded in 1995.