N.C. Clean Air Coalition details its Clean Smokestacks Plan

By Rose Hooper

In Asheville, the press conference included statements from the Blue Ridge Environmental Defense League, the Western North Carolina Alliance and the Canary Coalition.

"The Clean Smokestacks Plan of the N.C. Clean Air Coalition, which is being released today (Monday), outlines the steps that are necessary to be taken by the state of North Carolina to begin the process of clearing the air we breath," said Avram Friedman of the Canary Coalition. "North Carolina must do its part in controlling emissions from the coal-fired power plants within its borders."

Fourteen of the state's coal-fire utility plants are operating without being required to meet federal emission control standards, Friedman said. Three of these have controls only for sulfur dioxide.

Ultimately, North Carolina's neighbors will have to do their part as well to clean the air, he said.

"There is no better time than now for North Carolina to take leadership in solving this problem," Friedman said. "And with the adoption of these standards, we'll have the legal and moral authority to challenge the out-of-state plants, which are causing most of the problem in the mountains."

The Clean Air Coalition is calling for the state legislature to begin the process by mandating that emission control standards for the state's existing coal-fired power plant be upgraded to roughly the same standards mandated by the federal Clean Air Act for newly constructed plants.

"This measure is long overdue," said Friedman, "given that our older, grandfathered power plants were never intended to operate with immunity from regulation for this long a period of time."

The Canary Coalition has called on all state senators and representatives to embrace this plan and to adopt legislation during this session of the General Assembly to mandate the upgraded standards.

In the coming weeks and months, the Canary Coalition will work to demonstrate that the principles outlined in the Clean Smokestacks Plan have public support and that the General Assembly has a responsibility to act promptly on this legislation, Friedman said.

Members of the Jackson County Board of Commissioners illustrated this point last week when they unanimously adopted a resolution urging all state legislators to support and vote for legislation that mandates the upgraded standards.

"...in order to protect public health, promote a vibrant economy and conserve our natural environment, the Jackson County Board of Commissioners supports the standards recommended by the N.C. Clean Air Coalition in the passage and implementation of a N.C. Clean Smokestacks Act," the resolution states. "We urge all legislators from the mountains and across the state to actively support and vote in favor of this critical legislation."

The resolution points out that North Carolina power plans burn 32 million tons of coal every year and are the state's single largest point source of air pollution; that smokestack pollution is responsible for 1,800 premature death in the state annually; that power plant pollution is responsible for crop damage estimated at more than $175 million annually; and that fresh and saltwater fish are being contaminated by mercury, making several species unfit for consumption.

"Technologies are available that can reduce nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide and mercury pollution from power plants by more than 80 percent, while increasing utility cost by 5 percent or less," the resolution states.

"Polls say that people are happy to pay (5 percent) for clean air," Friedman told the board.

Commissioner Stacy Buchanan backed up this claim by reporting that clean air and the need to preserve it has been mentioned during each of the seven Smart Growth communities meetings held across the county to date.

The Sylva Town Board is considering the same resolution and should have a decision at its March 15 special meeting. News Editor Lisa Majors-Duff contributed to this report.

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