Fighting Dirty Coal at New Power Plants
The Southeast's high number of old, dirty power plants has taken its toll.
- Filed under: Healthy Air & Clean Energy
- This case also affects: Alabama Georgia North Carolina South Carolina Virginia
- Meet the attorneys on this case: Gudrun Thompson
Combined, the states in the southeast rank 7th in the world for their contribution to global warming; this is largely due to the high carbon dioxide emissions of coal-fired power plants. The South accounts for approximately 40% of U.S. CO2 emissions.
In addition, these power plants produce soot- and smog-forming pollution, increase mercury pollution in our waters and make our air unhealthy to breathe.
More Coal Plants Will Worsen Air Quality
Unfortunately, if our region’s power companies have their way, at least four new coal-burning plants that rely on outdated technologies will soon be given the green light in the Southeast, worsening the region's air quality and increasing our contribution to global warming.
The four plants would add approximately 30 million tons of CO2 to the air annually, roughly equivalent to the exhaust from 2 million vehicles.
SELC Advocates Cleaner Energy
SELC is working with citizen groups across the Southeast to challenge proposals in Virginia, South Carolina, North Carolina , and Georgia and ensure that before any new power plants are built, cleaner alternatives such as renewable energy sources and energy efficiency programs are fully explored. Furthermore, where possible, SELC is pushing utilities to commit to technologies that capture carbon before it is emitted.