Tag Archives: Pacific Northwest

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Who’s America’s biggest funder of dirty coal?


Over the last few weeks, I’ve told you about toxic aging coal plants in Chicago, mountaintop removal mining threatening Kentucky’s highest peak, and coal export terminals proposed in the Pacific Northwest.

What do you think all these destructive coal projects have in common?

Follow the money—deep into Appalachia’s majestic mountains, through neighborhoods crowned with filthy smokestacks, and into homes of people affected by skyrocketing asthma rates—and you’ll land at the doorstep of America’s largest financier of coal: Bank of America.

No more dollars for dirty energy

Bank of America provided over $3.9 billion in financing to the coal industry in 2010, despite the fact that coal is responsible for polluting our air, damaging our climate, and seriously threatening our health.

Bank of America has a responsibility to end its support for the ultimate subprime investment: coal. BofA wreaked havoc on America’s housing market, and its prolific financing of carbon-heavy coal is a continuation of this reckless, shortsighted behavior.

No more dollars for dirty energy

We cannot grow the clean energy economy essential to healthy communities and climate if the country’s leading financial institutions continue to bankroll the coal sector.

We are going to need your outrage, your voice and your passion. No more dollars for dirty energy

It will take all of us, but this is a fight we can and must win.

Amanda

For a clean energy future,
Amanda Starbuck
Energy & Finance Program Director
Twitter: @DirtyEnergy

 

~ politics petitions pollution and pop culture

Stop TransAlta’s coal pollution in Washington State


CREDO Action | more than a network. a movement.
Tell the EPA: Don’t let the TransAlta power plant off the hook.  

Haze pollution from coal harms our air and our health.
Stop haze pollution in Washington!
Send a message to the Pacific Northwest office of the EPA:  

The proposed haze pollution plan from the Washington Department of Ecology is insufficient to create significant reductions in NOx pollution.

The EPA must submit stronger regulations to hold the TransAlta plant accountable, and reduce harmful haze pollution in Washington.

Take action now!


The TransAlta coal power plant near Mr. Rainier is Washington’s single largest air polluter. Every year it’s responsible for 10,000 tons of nitrogen oxide (NOx) pollution which causes haze damage to twelve protected public lands — and poses threats to public health.

The Clean Air Act mandates that Washington submits a plan to control haze pollution from coal fired power plants like TransAlta by January 15th.

However, the current plan proposed by the Washington State Department of Ecology fails to create meaningful pollution controls for TransAlta, and has been criticized by the National Park Service and the EPA as being unacceptably weak.

The EPA has the authority to reject the plan and enforce stronger measures by the January 15th deadline. That’s what they must do.

Send a message to the EPA: Issue a strong plan to meaningfully reduce haze pollution at TransAlta.

Haze is isn’t the only problem with NOx pollution. It can cause respiratory problems such as asthma, emphysema and bronchitis, aggravates existing heart disease, and can contribute to premature death.

The TransAlta coal plant shouldn’t be allowed to continue pumping these levels of NOx pollution into our air.

But that’s essentially what will happen under the current plan, unless the EPA steps in and proposes a stronger regulations to reduce haze pollution.

Tell the EPA: TransAlta cannot be let off the hook. Submit a strong plan to reduce haze pollution before the January 15th deadline.

Thanks for fighting for clean air.

Elijah Zarlin, Campaign Manager
CREDO Action

~ my 2cents ...

Washington State news … msnbc.com


Tsunami threat looms over Pacific Northwest

Northwest owes its hazard-prone future to what’s happening underground

A massive tsunami could devastate the Pacific Northwest if precautions aren’t taken, experts say. One geotechnical engineer has a solution to the problem: Build a series of tsunami evacuation buildings.