ALEXANDRIA, Va., May 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American
Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity issued this statement in response to
the Sierra Club's decision to sue developers of coal-fueled power plants:
"These lawsuits are just another ploy by the Sierra Club and its
cohorts, to do what they have described as 'clogging up the system,' in
trying to prevent the siting of new advanced coal-based power plants to
meet America's growing demand for electricity.
"Instead of falsely portraying itself as favoring Maximum Achievable
Control Technology (MACT) standards, or any other technology-based solution
for that matter, the Sierra Club should come clean and publicly announce
their position in a truthful manner. Simply put, they are opposed to the
construction of coal-fueled power plants, period. They hold this position
regardless of a plant's use of technology to reduce emissions and
regardless of the state's need to provide affordable and reliable
electricity to the working families residing there.
"The fact is all newly constructed coal-fueled electricity plants are
required to use Best Available Control Technology (BACT) in order to be
built. This technology has successfully protected the human health and
environment.
"It also is important to note, that under the Bush Administration, the
EPA developed the world's first plan to control power plant mercury
emissions called the Clean Air Mercury Rule (CAMR). In concert with the
Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR), both would have reduced mercury emissions
from U.S. power plants by more than 70 percent. The coal-based electricity
industry was on track to make the investments and install the equipment
necessary to achieve the ambitious targets set out by these regulations.
Unfortunately, the Sierra Club's success in overturning the rule has put on
hold the comprehensive action necessary to begin wide-spread regulation of
mercury pending the outcome of this dispute.
"Coal currently accounts for half of this country's electricity. For
the past thirty five years, the use of coal has tripled while emissions
from coal-based electricity plants are 50 percent lower and the
environmental performance of coal-fueled electricity plants has improved 70
percent. In order to meet an electricity demand that is projected to double
in the next 15 years, there is a critical need to create a balanced
portfolio of fuels including coal, renewable energy and other fuel sources
to meet this demand.
"In essence, the Sierra Club is doing nothing but clogging up America's
access to its most abundant energy resource. In doing so, the unfortunate
results of these efforts are thrown on the backs of hardworking families
paying, in many cases, more than half of their income on energy costs."
About ACCCE
The American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity (ACCCE) is a
non-profit, non-partisan partnership of companies involved in producing
electricity from coal. Because coal is America's most abundant energy
resource, ACCCE supports energy policies that balance coal's vital role in
meeting our country's growing need for affordable and reliable electricity
with the need to protect the environment. ACCCE also advocates for the
development and deployment of advanced clean coal technologies that will
produce electricity with near-zero emissions. Headquartered in Alexandria,
VA, ACCCE has more than 40 members that represent more than $190 billion in
annual revenues and employ more than 360,000 Americans. For more
information, visit http://www.cleancoalusa.org or http://www.americaspower.org.
SOURCE American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity
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Related links:
http://www.americaspower.org/
http://www.cleancoalusa.org/
CONTACT:
Leah Arnold of the American Coalition for
Clean Coal Electricity, +1-703-302-1222, larnold@cleancoalusa.org
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