Comments on: Washington State Approves Coal Plant Pollution

By: Climatarians | J. Hoogstrate

Climatarians | J. Hoogstrate — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:01:17 +0000

It is unfortunate that not all organizations are subjected to the same stringent standards required to keep pollution at bay. When one or two are subjected to more lenient treatment, it can cause damage to the environment. All organizations need to be treated uniformly. At Climatarians, we endorse the most stringent standards that would be beneficial to the whole environment.

By: Alex

Alex — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:05:30 +0000

Comments by the conservation groups point to many disappointing features of the agreement and especially the lack of analysis behind it

By: Robert Schreib

Robert Schreib — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 01:59:03 +0000

Kind of like watching a horror movie, isn’t it? If the USA makes 130 million tons of coal ash every year, and China and the poorest nations making far more, we are running out of places to dump it. Do you want a coal ash dump in your backyard? The EPA rates it as simple dirt, but they have to dump in lakes or rivers because the dust will give you cancer. On the up side, they are trying to convert the coal ash into new ‘green’ concrete and related building items. There is NO excuse for not trying to fully burn up the Nirous oxide, etc. from this plant, it’s just plain INEFFICIENT, and pretty ridiculous any way there is. America is supposed to lead the green revolution!

By: bpickard

bpickard — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 21:19:48 +0000

OK. Close the plant. Tomorrow.

Now tell us where the 1/3 of the electrical power used by people and business in Western Washington will come from for the next 20-30 years which is how long it REALLY takes to get ANY new plants using ANY power source permitted and constructed.

Or you can just impose so much regulation on the plant that Transalta cannot afford to operate it.

Check your facts. Yes, its a coal plant, and it does emit pollution. It is not as bad for the environment as you so desperately want to believe it is, and the world without it is decidedly worse for everyone who actually lives in Washington State.

Instead of working to destroy the economy here, please put your energy into finding cleaner (notice I did not say cheaper) scientifically and economically VIABLE alternatives to it. So far, windmills, solar farms, and more hydro dams can’t do it. The long range plan for this plant includes converting it to natural gas – but why would the company use their investor’s money to do that if you force them to write off the hundreds of millions (real, not made up number) they have invested in pollution controls, that in fact do work.