NRDC 'Toxic 20' List Reveals States With Worst Power Plant Polluters
The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) released a report this week addressing toxic air pollution in the U.S. With the report, they created a "Toxic 20" list of states "where residents are at a higher risk of numerous health problems just by breathing," the NRDC explains.
According to a press release, the report "found that coal- and oil-fired power plantsstill contribute nearly half (44 percent) of all the toxic air pollution reported to the Environmental Protection Agency’s Toxics Release Inventory (TRI)."
NRDC's Pete Altman blogs, "Both senators from eight states of the 'Toxic 20' states -- Kentucky, Indiana, Georgia, Texas, Virginia, South Carolina, Alabama and Mississippi -- supported a resolution by Sen. James Inhofe, R-Okla., to repeal the health-protective mercury and air toxics standard."
The NRDC said toxic emissions overall decreased 19 percent primarily due to installation of controls and increased use of natural gas.John Walke, the NRDC's clean air director, said falling natural gas prices have been the "single most influential factor" in the decision to convert to natural gas or retire coal-burning units.
According to the article, Texas is ranked number 10 for worst power plant polluters. Do you think Texas will ever be able to get off this list and stop major pollution from power plants?
There definitely are some measures being taken right now to try and reduce the amount of pollution going into the air in Texas, such as NRG Energy's plan to place a unit onto a large W.A Parish power plant in Fort Bend County that will capture carbon dioxide being released from the plant. At the same time though, NRG Energy just signed a deal with Houston based Genon to form the nation's largest power generator. Although NRG Energy is trying to reduce its carbon footprint by installing systems in some of its plants to reduce greenhouse gases, it's about to emit a lot more pollution, with this new merger, possibly making it go up in rankings in terms of states that are the worst power plant polluters.
ReplyDeleteI like to think that eventually Texas will be able to cut down on its pollution. If you look at our Total Industrial Toxic Air Pollution (lb) we rank 3rd at 41million which is something else that needs to be taken into account. Looking to get off this list at solely electric toxic air pollution, we are at 10.5 million, we would need to drop below 2.9 million. I don't know the details but there seems to be a huge gap. Maybe they will finally figure out how to use thorium in reactors and it ends up being as clean and safe as they think it will be! Then maybe...
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