Former coal lobbyist turned EPA Administrator Andrew Wheeler ignored the recommendations of EPA scientists and public health experts today by finalizing his proposal to not correct the legal limit for dangerous particulate matter pollution, also known as soot.
Press Releases
Charleston, WV -- Today, the West Virginia Highlands Conservancy, Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition (OVEC), Appalachian Voices, and the Sierra Club filed a settlement with Bluestone Coal Company that will hold the company responsible for releasing illegal levels of toxic selenium pollution into the Tug River from its Red Fox coal mine located in McDowell County, West Virginia. The settlement compels Bluestone to take actions to come into compliance with selenium limits in its Clean Water Act permit and pay $270,000 to the West Virginia Land Trust.
Richmond, VA -- Last week, the Virginia State Corporation Commission (SCC) rejected Appalachian Power’s proposal to increase the basic service charge and pre-charge then stockpile consumers money to subsidize the retirement of its uneconomic coal plant’s even though Appalachian Power has not locked in retirement dates. The Sierra Club actively fought against the proposed coal amortization rider, providing key witnesses arguing that the increase would result in consumers pre-paying for undetermined early coal retirements.
Natrium, WV -- Today, the Sierra Club and Ohio Valley Environmental Coalition entered into a proposed consent decree settlement agreement with Eagle Natrium, LLC that would resolve the groups’ claims that the company violated its permit limits for discharges of mercury into the Ohio River from its chlor-alkali facility located in Natrium, West Virginia.
By December 21, the Des Moines City Council is expected to vote on a resolution committing to 100% clean renewable energy by 2030. As an advocate for clean energy commitments across the country, and an expert on energy generation and distribution, Sierra Club was slated to speak on the agenda before the Council. MidAmerican Energy provides most of the City’s electricity, and Sierra Club’s recent Coal Truth report explains how much of MidAmerican’s energy generation continues to come from burning coal at significant cost to customers, contrary to the utility’s claim that it is on track to generate 100% of its energy from renewable sources. The report also points out that MidAmerican is one of the largest utilities in the country that continues to refuse to set a carbon reduction target, and that its emissions from burning coal represent the largest source of carbon pollution in Iowa. It is Sierra Club’s understanding that Sierra Club was removed from the meeting agenda at the request of MidAmerican.
DULUTH, MN. -- In a new paper released this morning, analysis by Sierra Club shows that Minnesota Power would save customers millions of dollars by retiring the Clay Boswell coal plant and replacing that power with a clean energy portfolio that includes wind, solar, storage, energy efficiency, and demand response technologies.
Read Retiring the Boswell Coal Plant: The Case for Clean Energy in the Northland here.
After days of speculation surrounding the FBI search of Chairman Sam Randazzo's Columbus home, and an SEC filing from FirstEnergy identifying a questionable $4 million payment to an unidentified Ohio utility regulator, Chairman Randazzo has resigned from the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.
ANNAPOLIS, MD - The Sierra Club and Maryland League of Conservation Voters today applauded the Maryland Commission on Climate Change’s new 2020 Annual Report to the Maryland General Assembly and Governor Hogan.
ANNAPOLIS , MD - Today, Talen Energy announced that the company would stop burning coal at the Montour, Brandon Shores, and Wagner power plants by the end of 2025, pending approvals by relevant state agencies. In addition to moving off coal, Talen publicly committed to develop 1 GW of solar and electricity storage facilities, beginning with a 100MW solar development adjacent to the Montour site in Pennsylvania and storage at Wagner in Maryland.
This week, WEC Energy Group announced it plans to retire 1400 MW of coal by 2025, starting with the four remaining units (1192 MW) at the South Oak Creek coal plant in 2023 and 2024; with an additional 300MW to be retired by 2025. WEC is a co-owner of the Columbia coal plant, operated by Alliant Energy; and it co-owns and operates the Weston Power Plant and Elm Road Generating Station. WEC’s announcement included plans to invest in a significant clean energy portfolio that includes 800 MW of solar, 600 MW of battery storage, and 100 MW of wind. WEC’s announcements are part of a “roadmap” that lays out the company’s near-term plans to achieve 70% reduction in carbon emissions by 2030.