An embattled $1.8 billion coal plant slated for Wise County, Va., was granted pollution permits Wednesday by a state regulatory board, allowing construction to proceed. The company that will be building the 585-megawatt plant, Dominion Resources, promised local officials it would only source coal from within Virginia; that move is expected to fuel increased mountaintop-removal mining in the state. Air officials were quick to point out that they issued permits for air pollution at drastically lower levels than Dominion had requested -- some 80 percent lower for both sulfur dioxide and mercury. As part of the deal, Dominion agreed to switch its oldest coal-fired power plant in Virginia to natural gas. When construction of the new coal plant is finished around 2012, it's expected to produce some 5.3 million tons of carbon dioxide a year.
source: The Washington Post, The Guardian, Associated Press
see also, in Gristmill: Dominion Power’s dirty plans for Virginia
see also, in Gristmill: Forest Service objects to Va. ‘clean coal’ plant that would be one of state’s biggest polluters
Cautious optimism for Copenhagen deal as Barcelona climate talks end
Another coal plant bites the dust
Barcelona outcome: White House strategy is plea for more time
Comments
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Orfintain Posted 9:17 am
26 Jun 2008
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Delay And Deny Posted 9:40 am
26 Jun 2008
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Tasermons Partner Posted 1:14 am
27 Jun 2008
But also, it should be noted that just because they only gave out permits at lower levels than what was requested, that the plant will actually stick to those levels.
It's not uncommon at all for plants to exceed their permitted levels, and fines are fairly rare for such events.
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catman Posted 12:08 pm
28 Jun 2008
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