New Giant Power Plant Using Old, Dirty Technology Proposed Along Lake Huron

The Michigan Department of Environmental Quality is considering whether to permit a new giant, 930 MW coal fired power plant proposed by Consumers Energy in Bay County long Lake Huron - a county that already has higher than average rates of heart and respiratory disease. "What we want is clean, renewable, affordable energy," said Mariah McClean of Bay City, president of a new group called Sustainability Society. McClean said the Citizens group was formed in the spring, over concerns about up to eight new coal-fired plants proposed for Michigan, including one each in Bay County's Hampton Township and Midland.

The Sustainability Society, joined by groups around Michigan, are asking for your help during this public comment period to deliver a message to Governor Granholm and Department of Environmental Quality -- we need to stop the expansion of yesterday's technology of coal-fired power and instead create a Clean Energy future for Michigan, by getting any additional energy needs from clean sources, promoting energy efficiency, creating clean energy jobs in Michigan and reducing global warming pollution. If approved, the expansion of the Bay County Karn-Weadock coal plant will emit an additional 8.1 million tons of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere every year for the next 50 years. Additionally, the expansion would deposit 64lbs of mercury, 1,820 tons of nitrogen oxides, 2,154 tons of sulfur oxides and 911 tons of particulate matter into our atmosphere every year.

Your comments are being accepted until May 20th and can be sent:

Via mail:
Ms. Mary Ann Dolehanty, Acting Permit Section Supervisor
Department of Environmental Quality, Air Division
P.O. Box 30260
Lansing, MI 48909-7760

Via the Web: www.deq.state.mi.us/aps/cwerp.shtml

For more information or to learn how to get involved, contact Mariah McClean at (989) 894-0275 or e-mail at info@sagvalss.org