coal

Sierra Club’s Reinventing Power Documentary Highlights Clean Energy’s True Backstory

Documentary focuses on the people advancing clean energy from innovation to installation

Report: Illinois Can Reliably Replace Dynegy-Vistra Coal Fleet and Save Up To $14 Billion

All of Dynegy-Vistra’s coal fleet in Southern Illinois can be replaced without damaging the regional stability of Illinois’s electricity grid, and this replacement could save Illinois ratepayers up to $14 billion, according to a report released today by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Sierra Club. The report, prepared by Vibrant Clean Energy (VCE), analyzed the electricity, customer bill, and pollution impacts of closing Dynegy-Vistra’s eight southern and central Illinois power plants. The report contradicts Dynegy-Vistra’s claim that shuttering their Illinois coal fleet would have negative impacts on the state’s power grid that would lead to power outages and consequently require a bailout from the state.

Governor Cuomo Commits to Power Plant Pollution Protections

Albany, N.Y.— The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) released a draft pollution protection rule today that would place stringent emissions standards on existing power plants. Today’s action is a critical first step to ensure that the state reaches its goal to eliminate 40 percent of New York’s greenhouse gas emissions sector wide by 2030, while protecting New York’s air and water from outdated, dirty, and unnecessary power plants.

Sierra Club opposes TVA’s decision to raise electric bills for customers

TVA’s board of directors today approved a mandatory fixed fee that will force customers to pay more on their electric bill before they even flip a switch.

Cheswick Plant Fails Key Air Pollution Tests, Sierra Club Seeks Remedy

Pittsburgh, PA - The Sierra Club today issued a Notice of Intent to Sue NRG Energy and GenOn Americas Generation for failure to meet key Clean Air Act (CAA) and Pennsylvania State Implementation Plan (SIP) pollution protections at their Cheswick Generating Station in Springdale, PA. Via publicly available air quality monitoring data, Sierra Club has discovered that the Cheswick plant is emitting nitrogen oxide (NOx) pollution at levels beyond those allowed in its operating permit, despite having available technology installed in the plant that should ensure that pollution protection requirements are met. NRG will have 60 days to respond to the notice.

Bellingham, Washington Aims for 100% Clean, Renewable Energy

The Bellingham City Council approved a resolution that establishes its commitment to a planning process that will assess the feasibility and pathways for getting to 100 percent renewable energy by 2030.

Sierra Club Launches Video Exposing Rauner’s Big Coal Agenda

After a series of backroom talks with Texas-based Dynegy, Governor Rauner’s Illinois EPA, is pushing to weaken Illinois air pollution standards in order to pad their own profits. In addition, Dynegy-Vistra is now also asking the state legislature for permission to raise rates on Central and Southern Illinois households, claiming that ratepayer-funded bailouts are needed to keep coal plants open due to the company’s financial hardship. However, the recent $20 billion merger between Dynegy and Vistra Energy tells a different story, as does a recent interview with Vistra’s CEO highlighted in Sierra Club’s video.

State regulators criticize Puget Sound Energy over financial risks of their coal power

Washington State's Utilities and Transportation Commission had some strong words for Puget Sound Energy over their continued use of the Colstrip coal plant in Eastern Montana - the largest source of climate pollution in the Western United States.

After Being Pressured by Public Health Groups, Pruitt Releases Designations for New Smog Pollution Standard

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Scott Pruitt designated 51 areas in the United States as out of compliance with the new, stronger smog pollution standard of 70 parts per billion, but omitted important areas that are likely out of compliance based on earlier scientific findings.

Virginia’s Gov. Northam Objects to Pruitt’s Proposal to Weaken Water Protections

RICHMOND, Virginia -- In written comments today to Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt, Governor Northam stated that he would not support the EPA’s revisions to lessen protections for clean water from coal ash pollution. In addition, Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality made a commitment to maintain the strong safeguards against coal ash pollution in the state, despite potential weakening of federal regulations.

Sierra Club intervenes to stop FPL’s fracked gas plant at Dania Beach

A Florida judge has ruled that Sierra Club, on behalf of its nearly 38,000 Florida members, can intervene in FPL’s request to build a fracked gas power plant in the Dania Beach community.

With Coal Industry in Decline, Alpha and Contura Merge

Contura Energy Inc. and Alpha Natural Resources Inc. announced today that the two coal mining companies have reached a “definitive merger agreement” that will re-merge the companies in order to try and compete in America’s declining coal industry.