Environmentalists say a new era has begun concering coal-fired power plants in the U.S., following a decision by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on Friday to overturn the State of South Dakota’s approval of a massive coal-fired power plant.
The decision came less than three days after President Barack Obama took office; however, Carl Daly, unit chief for EPA Region 8, said "It would be fair to say" the decision would have been made under the Bush administration.
Nonetheless, the Sierra Club said the EPA’s decision to require state-of-the-art pollution controls on the new facility marks a turnign point.
"This is a great day not only for clean energy and people’s health, it’s a victory for the rule of law," said Bruce Nilles, Director of the Sierra Club’s Move Beyond Coal Campaign. "EPA is signaling that it is back to enforcing longstanding legal requirements fairly and consistently nationwide."
The decision could signal that the dozens of other coal plant proposals currently in permitting processes nationwide will face a new level of federal scrutiny.
The decision concerns the proposed $1.3 billion Big Stone II plant near Milbank, South Dakota. The South Dakota Department of Environment & Natural Resources has 90 days to correct three deficiencies noted by the EPA in its permitting of the plant.
Although construction could begin under new permitting guidelines, Niles said he is confident the EPA decision will raise the cost of the project to a level that kills it.
According to a Sierra Club release, the Big Stone II 500-megawatt coal plant would have emitted more than 4 million tons of pollution annually.
"Otter Tail Power will now have to be responsible for the cost of its pollution," said Nilles. "We hope that this increasing cost of coal will encourage Otter Tail Power, along with Governors Pawlenty and Rounds, to harness the clean and affordable wind resources available in the region. Minnesota and South Dakota should be leaders on the path to renewable energy independence, not laggards proposing 19th century coal plants."
In Related News…
Sierra Club Executive Director Carl Pope announced plans to step down from his position once a new executive director is hired.
The Sierra Club Board of Directors has begun forming a search committee and will launch the search for Pope’s successor in the coming weeks. Pope will continue to serve as executive director until the position is filled. He will then transition to chairman of the Sierra Club, focused on climate change.
Pope has served as executive director for 16 years.
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