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ACCCE Statement Regarding Latest Sierra Club Effort to Block Construction of New Coal-Fueled Power Plants

Posted on: Thursday, 8 May 2008, 18:00 CDT

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 used 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 is successfully protecting 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, 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 due to increased demand and Sierra Club impeding supply."

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. For more information, visit www.cleancoalusa.org or www.americaspower.org.

Source: Business Wire

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