The Trump administration released a resource management plan today that would expand federal fossil fuel development across a huge swath of southwestern Colorado, threatening a growing organic agriculture hub and undermining the state’s new climate law. The federal administration’s plans directly contradict Colorado’s new law calling for steep cuts in greenhouse gas emissions, a 50 percent cut by 2030 and a 90 percent reduction by 2050.
An independent analysis describes how Colorado’s coal-burning power plants are economically unviable, burdening customers with extra costs when compared to renewable energy resources. Conducted by energy consulting firm, Strategen, the report finds that renewable resources have outpaced coal, with the potential to save customers millions of dollars. These savings increase when the social cost of carbon (SCC) for the 10 units in the study is accounted for and securitized bonds are used as a tool to transition away from coal.
Meanwhile, Georgia is one of the top coal ash-generating states in the country, producing more than 6 millions tons of coal ash every year. And for many years, the state has also been a dumping ground for coal ash from Florida and the Carolinas.
Today the Illinois Pollution Control Board (IPCB) agreed with environmental groups in their lawsuit against Midwest Generation, LLC, a subsidiary of NRG Energy, alleging that four of its coal power plants contaminated groundwater with harmful chemicals found in coal ash. The pollution at those four coal power plants, located in Waukegan, Joliet, Pekin, and Will County, put the densely populated communities around the plants at risk. This is a major victory in a case started in 2012 by the environmental groups (Sierra Club, Environmental Law & Policy Center, Prairie Rivers Network, and Citizens Against Ruining the Environment).
On Tuesday, the same evening Trump claimed the US has the “cleanest air and water” at a campaign rally in Orlando, Florida, the AP reported that U.S. air quality is deteriorating after years of improvement. The decrease in air quality comes as Trump rolls back two of the US’ biggest defenses of clean air and a safe climate: the Clean Power Plan, replaced yesterday with the “Dirty Power Scam” and the clean car standards. Notably, the main architects of the rollbacks from EPA and NHTSA’s political leadership are about to face a congressional hearing.
MADISON, WI -- In the midst of intense public pressure for action on the climate crisis, Donald Trump and his EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler nevertheless moved backward today by finalizing the Trump Administration's plan to roll back the Clean Power Plan, the first-ever safeguards to curb carbon pollution from existing power plants.
In the midst of intense public pressure for action on the climate crisis, Donald Trump and his EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler nevertheless moved backward today by finalizing the Trump Administration's plan to roll back the Clean Power Plan, the first-ever safeguards to curb carbon pollution from existing power plants. Wheeler’s alternative—the Dirty Power Plan—is an illegal rollback of the Obama Administration’s signature climate policy that is geared to galvanize political support from coal industry executives, even while several CEOs have publicly acknowledged that coal generation is phasing out. While Illinois has made significant progress in clean energy development since the passage of the Future Energy Jobs Act, the state’s electric sector remains one of the most heavily polluting and carbon intensive in the country. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has committed Illinois to reaching the emissions reduction goals of the Paris Climate Agreement and a goal of 100% clean energy for Illinois, and the Clean Energy Jobs Act, (SB2132 (Castro) /HB3624 (Williams)) to achieve that goal and create thousands of quality jobs across the state, particularly in areas that need them most.
In the midst of intense public pressure for action on the climate crisis, former coal lobbyist and EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler did the opposite today by finalizing the Trump Administration's plan to roll back the Clean Power Plan - the first-ever safeguards from carbon pollution for existing power plants. Wheeler’s alternative -- the Dirty Power Plan -- is a deadly rollback and an illegal giveaway to the coal industry that EPA previously estimated could result in up to 1,400 pollution related deaths every year.
Montgomery County, MD -- Two weeks after a Maryland Circuit Court ruled against a coal company’s efforts to block clean water safeguards at its Chalk Point power plant in Prince George’s County, another Circuit Court judge rejected the same company’s attempt to challenge a Clean Water Act permit for its Dickerson plant in Montgomery County.
Charleston, WV -- Today, West Virginia governor and perennial legal defendant Jim Justice attacked thousands of grassroots activists and everyday West Virginians working to address the climate crisis and harmful pollution by moving America off of fossil fuels. Meanwhile, policy that would support coal communities in transition and ensure workers have a pension sits on a shelf. Justice decried Michael Bloomberg’s “Beyond Carbon” initiative, suggesting that West Virginia continue to rely on deadly, outdated fossil fuels such as coal, as the United States quickly moves to a clean energy economy.
The Michigan Public Service Commission approved Consumers Energy long-term resource plan that includes significant investments in clean energy. Environmental organizations including Michigan Environmental Council (MEC), Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Sierra Club, represented by Olson, Bzdok & Howard and Earthjustice, advocated for significant increases in energy efficiency programs, renewable energy investments and the retirement of the utility’s coal fleet.
Last week Texas based energy giant, Dynegy announced that it has entered into a multi-year partnership with the Chicago Cubs to become the Official and Exclusive Energy Provider for the Chicago Cubs and Wrigley Field. Since Dynegy completed a $1.74 billion merger with Vistra Energy, the Texas-based corporation is the largest electric sector polluter not only in Illinois but nationally. Coal power plants are major contributors to climate change, and release toxic air and water pollution that is extremely dangerous to human health.