For
Immediate Release: January 17, 2012
Contacts:
Jenna Garland, Sierra Club, 404 607-1262 x222,
jenna.garland@sierraclub.org
Kathleen Sullivan, communications, 919-945-7106 or
ksullivan@selcnc.org
Agreement Cuts Pollution by Retiring Dirty, Old Coal in Carolinas
CHAPEL HILL, N.C.—Conservation
groups today announced a settlement with Duke Energy that will cut pollution by
phasing out over 1600 mega watts of dirty, old coal-fired power while still meeting
customers’ energy needs.
The groups
reached settlement in an administrative challenge to the state-issued air
pollution permit for construction and operation of a new coal-fired unit at
Duke Energy’s Cliffside power plant near Shelby, N.C. The Southern
Environmental Law Center negotiated the settlement on behalf of Environmental
Defense Fund, National Parks Conservation Association, Sierra Club, and Southern
Alliance for Clean Energy.
Under the
settlement terms, Duke Energy will retire old coal-fired units that lack modern
pollution control technology, totaling about 1667 megawatts or more than twice
the capacity of the new unit at the Cliffside facility. Duke had previously included
these coal-plant retirements in its non-binding, long-range plan submitted each
year to the state utilities commission. The settlement agreement makes the
planned retirements enforceable, thereby locking in reductions in air and water
pollution that harms the health of children and families in the Carolinas.
As a result of
advocacy by the conservation groups and other clean energy advocates, the new Cliffside
unit will operate under the most stringent acid gas controls in the United
States, with a 99.9 percent reduction in such pollution. Acid gases, such as
sulfur dioxide and hydrochloric acid, from coal-fired power plants can cause
eye, nose, and respiratory tract irritation and inflammation, chest pain,
coughing, nausea, impaired lung function, asthma attacks, and chronic
bronchitis.
The settlement
also tightens a permit provision that Duke Energy must demonstrate best
practices to decrease toxic air pollution emitted during malfunction, shut down
and start up situations.
Many old power
plants operate today without modern pollution controls that are overdue since
the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. Over 400 coal- and oil-fired power plants
nationwide release in excess of 386,000 tons of hazardous air pollutants into
the atmosphere each year that are linked to cancer, heart disease, birth
defects, asthma attacks and even premature death.
Statements from
the attorney and groups involved follow:
“This settlement
phases out some of the oldest, dirtiest, and most inefficient coal plants in
the Carolinas,” said John Suttles, a senior attorney at the Southern
Environmental Law Center who represented the groups in court. “In addition to
protecting people’s health and saving lives, it also will save ratepayers’
money by paving the way for a more efficient and sustainable energy future.”
"This
settlement ends another chapter in the history of polluting coal generation
that jeopardizes our health, air and water," said Michael Regan, director
of energy efficiency for Environmental Defense Fund. "In the future, energy conservation and
new technologies will provide North Carolina with reliable energy while
protecting our families and economy."
“North Carolina has long been
a clean air leader, and today's settlement is another important step forward
for the Tarheel State. This settlement is critical for the health of North
Carolina's families. Coal-fired electricity is the primary source of toxic
mercury pollution and is a leading trigger of asthma attacks. These retirements
will allow North Carolina to move beyond coal, and focus on clean energy
solutions like solar and offshore wind," said Mary Anne Hitt, Director of
Sierra Club's Beyond Coal campaign.
“We are pleased to finally have a settlement
agreement with Duke Energy to offset the enormous amount of carbon dioxide that
the Cliffside coal plant will emit over its lifespan,” stated Stephen Smith
executive director of Southern Alliance for Clean Energy. “Duke’s old coal
plants need to come offline to reduce the company's contribution to climate
change while making room for cleaner, more sustainable energy sources.”
About
Environment Defense Fund
Environmental Defense Fund (edf.org), a leading
national nonprofit organization, creates transformational solutions to the most
serious environmental problems. EDF links science, economics, law and
innovative private-sector partnerships. See twitter.com/EnvDefenseFund and
facebook.com/EnvDefenseFund
About
National Parks Conservation Association
Since 1919, the nonpartisan, non-profit
National Parks Conservation Association has been the leading voice of the
American people in protecting and enhancing our National Park System. NPCA, its
340,000 members, and partners work together to protect the park system and
preserve our nation’s natural, historical, and cultural heritage for our
children and grandchildren. www.npca.org
About
Sierra Club
Sierra Club is the nation’s largest grassroots
environmental organization with over 17,000 members in North Carolina and more
than 1.4 million members and supporters nationwide. Since 2002, Sierra Club’s
Beyond Coal campaign has successfully stopped 161 new coal plant proposals from
moving forward, and is working to move our nation beyond coal to a clean, safe
energy economy.
About
Southern Alliance for Clean Energy
Southern Alliance for Clean Energy is a
not-for-profit, non-partisan organization working to promote responsible energy
choices that solve global warming problems and ensure clean, safe, healthy
communities throughout the Southeast. www.cleanenergy.org
About
the Southern Environmental Law Center
The Southern Environmental Law Center is a regional nonprofit
using the power of the law to protect the health and environment of the
Southeast (Virginia, Tennessee, North and South Carolina, Georgia, and
Alabama). Founded in 1986, SELC's team of more than 40 legal and policy experts
represent more than 100 partner groups on issues of climate change and energy,
air and water quality, forests, the coast and wetlands, transportation, and
land use.
WEB: www.SouthernEnvironment.org
TWITTER: http://www.twitter.com/selc_org
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