WASHINGTON, D.C. - Earlier this week, the DC Public Service Commission put District gas customers on the hook for another $150 million investment in Washington Gas’s outdated pipeline spending proposal. The full, 30-year spending proposal will cost ratepayers up to $4.5 billion on the gas utility’s fossil fuel distribution system, which itself is only valued at $525 million. Washington Gas’s plan is incompatible with DC’s climate commitment to phase out fossil use by 2050 and flies in the face of the real actions needed and outlined in the Clean Energy DC plan.
Press Releases
South Carolina Public Service Commissioners have unanimously rejected Dominion Energy’s proposed plan for how it would provide electricity to customers over the next several years, and have ordered the utility to file a modified plan within 60 days.
Sierra Club Hails Milestone in State Climate Leadership and Need for Bold Action on Carbon Emissions
Lieutenant Governor Mandela Barnes released the Governor’s Task Force on Climate Change Report that included 55 policy recommendations to address climate change in Wisconsin. This report comes after a year of input from the Task Force, five public hearings and thousands of comments.
Former coal lobbyist, and soon to be former EPA Administrator, Andrew Wheeler finalized new requirements today which change how EPA calculates the costs and benefits for its clean air protections.
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.
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.