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Late Breaking News |
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| Date: July 17, 1998 9:17 am Contact: Natural Resources Defense Council David Hawkins, 202-289-6868 or Richard Hoppe, 202-289-2405, both of the NRDC; or Frank O'Donnell of Clean Air Trust, 202-785-9625 |
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Latest News Releases
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NRDC Report Rates Major Sources of Power Plant Smog; Deregulation Could Exacerbate Problem | ||
| WASHINGTON - July 17 - With most states already recording
unhealthful smog levels this summer, a new report discloses that the nation's 100 largest
power companies vary dramatically in their pollution performance. "Some electric companies put out pollution at more than 10 times the rate of other companies," noted David G. Hawkins, senior attorney at the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC). The report, prepared by the NRDC and Public Service Electric and Gas Co., found that pollution rates "vary widely" among the power companies. Without "effective safeguards," electricity deregulation could "exacerbate" smog and other pollution problems, the report added. "The wide disparity in pollution from electricity suppliers demonstrates the need to include requirements for pollution caps as an integral part of electric industry deregulation legislation," Hawkins emphasized. "As this summer of smog so vividly demonstrates, we must reduce pollution from dirty power plants to protect children, seniors and others susceptible to smog," noted Hawkins. He added that an EPA proposal to reduce smog-forming nitrogen oxides in 22 Eastern states "clearly is a much-needed step in the right direction." The report shows that the 100 largest power companies are responsible for approximately 90 percent of national utility emissions of nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide. The largest 20 companies account for nearly half the emissions. Loopholes in current law permit more pollution from older power plants, the report notes. "Unless these loopholes are closed, it will be cheaper to run dirtier plants, and that will lead to even more pollution," Hawkins added. At least 34 states and the District of Columbia have already recorded smog levels this year above the federal health standard. "Not surprisingly, many of the problems are taking place in areas with the dirtiest power plants, including Ohio, West Virginia, Indiana, Tennessee and Kentucky," Hawkins noted. He added that long-range transport of power plant pollution is exacerbating problems in downwind states. (See below for 10 "biggest" utility NOx polluters and 10 "dirtiest" utility NOx polluters). Included with the report is a CD-ROM which contains extensive information on each power company. "As the electric industry deregulates and starts competing for customers, consumers need more tools to know what they're buying," Hawkins noted. "While every cereal box tells you what's in the product, the slick brochures you'll be getting from folks trying to sell you electricity won't tell you how clean or dirty their power is. Our report and CD-ROM are intended to fill the gap until we get policies adopted that will require power sellers to label their wares, and policies that require this environmentally harmful sector to clean up its act." Hawkins added, "The report will be a tool for citizens and policy makers at local, state and federal levels." The report also points out that: -- Electric power companies "contribute significantly" not only to smog, but to "multiple environmental problems," including acid rain, visibility impairment, fine particle pollution, eutrophication of lakes and streams, climate change and toxic air pollution. -- Disclosure of company-specific emissions performance will enhance efforts to mitigate pollution problems as the electricity industry is restructured. -- Independent power companies or "non-utility generators" now account for approximately 11 percent of the electricity generated in the United States. Many of these plants do not currently report their emissions to EPA, and, in fact, many of them don't have continuous emission monitors. "Consumers must have the right to know how much pollution is coming from all power producers," Hawkins said. The information is based on the most recently available (1996) data reported to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the Energy Information Administration at the Department of Energy. Copies of the report, Benchmarking Air Emissions of Electric Utility Generators in the United States, are available from the Natural Resources Defense Council. The report is also available on the Internet at http://www.nrdc.org/nrdcpro. ------ The Natural Resources Defense Council is a national nonprofit organization of scientists, lawyers and environmental specialists dedicated to protecting public health and the environment. Founded in 1970, NRDC has more than 350,000 members nationwide and offices in New York, Washington, Los Angeles and San Francisco. -- Ten Biggest Utility NOx Polluters (A) American Electric Power Tennessee Valley Authority The Southern Co. Cinergy Corp. Duke Power Co. Texas Utilities Co. Pacificorp Allegheny Power System Unicom Corp. (Commonwealth Edison Co.) Carolina Power & Light Co. (A) -- based on overall NOx pollution emitted ------ Ten Dirtiest Utility NOx Polluters (AA) Associated Electric Coop. Inc. TECO Energy Inc. (Tampa Electric) NIPSCO Industries Inc. (Northern Indiana Public Service Co.) Buckeye Power Inc. American Electric Power DPL Inc. (Dayton Power & Light Co.) CIPSCO Inc. (Central Illinois Public Service Co.) Illinova Corp. (Illinois Power Co.) Potomac Electric Power Co. Tennessee Valley Authority (AA) -- based on NOx emission rates -0- |
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