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Stopping the Coal
Rush in Missouri
Setting
the stage for a Clean Energy Future
At a time of rapidly changing energy policy, US power companies are rushing to build up to 120 coal-fired power plants partly because they want to get the permitting process started before planned and potential regulations kick in for mercury and greenhouse gases. These facilities, if built, will lock their regions into dirty energy for the lifetime of a coal plant or 30-50 years. Once built, they will effectively shut out the development of cheaper and cleaner renewable energy alternatives. And, since there is currently no way to retrofit coal-burning power plants to capture carbon dioxide (CO2), each plant will add more global warming gasses to our atmosphere when we know we must act now to reduce CO2 emissions.
The Missouri Sierra Club is actively opposing the Norborne, MO power plant to be built by Associate Electric Cooperatives Inc. because we believe there are cheaper and safer solutions for meeting the future energy demands of Missouri. For more information please see mocleanenergy.org. Sierra Club is also engaged in the campaign to stop Peabody from building a huge coal facility just outside of St. Louis in Illinois. And we are monitoring the plans of several other energy companies operating in Missouri.
Missouri Sierra Club’s Clean Air & Energy Campaign is engaged in energy issues throughout the state to influence and change energy policy to achieve wide-ranging, long-term results. What we achieve here could impact permit requirements, public policy and overall public expectations for future energy projects in Missouri and the entire Midwest.
The coal industry
is planning for the past
Up until now, the coal and oil industries have successfully discouraged
investments in innovation and new energy sources. But Americans know we
won’t build a 21st century energy system on 19th century fuel sources.
The plans of City Utilities in Springfield and Kansas City Power & Light
in Kansas City will lock these regions and ratepayers into a 30-50 year
investments in obsolete technology.
The price of
burning coal is increasing
Beyond the enormous external health and environmental costs attributed to
mining, transporting and burning coal, future cost increases are expected
that will be passed directly on to ratepayers. Spot prices for Wyoming Powder
River Basin coal have tripled from $7 to $22 per ton over the last year
and are expected to continue to rise with higher demand and strains on the
transportation system. And the future cost of regulating global warming
gasses and mercury emissions will be passed on to rate-payers.
A BETTER ENERGY
SOLUTION FOR MISSOURI
Hundreds of communities around the U.S. are decreasing their over-dependence
on coal and building a clean energy future through increased efficiency,
new technology and clean energy sources. Missouri can do the same with and
honest, balanced energy plans that don’t build expensive excess capacity.
We can all benefit
for plans that provide for clean, safe and reliable energy solutions.
Support Missouri Sierra Club’s Clean Air & Energy Campaign
| Your support can make a difference! Together,
we can Stop the Coal Rush and do something about GLOBAL WARMING! To financially support Missouri’s Clean Air & Energy Campaign, send your contribution to:
* Please make your contribution payable to “Sierra Club Foundation, Missouri Chapter Clean Air & Energy Campaign.” Contributions and gifts to The Sierra Club Foundation are tax-deductible as charitable contributions as they support grants for public education, research and public interest litigation necessary to further the Sierra Club's conservation goals. – On-line
donations: http://missouri.sierraclub.org. Only non-tax deductible donations
are available on-line. |
