The Council and MAPLE Coalition Applaud EPA on Portland Decision
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 31, 2011
CONTACT: Christine Guhl, (609)510-4684
Katie Feeney, (215)567.4004 ext. 112
MAPLE Applauds EPA for Protecting New Jersey and Pennsylvania from Pollution
Warren County, NJ – Today the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced a life-saving rule to protect the health of the residents of New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The EPA has granted New Jersey’s Section 125 petition under the Clean Air Act and is requiring that the GenOn Portland Generating Station reduce its harmful sulfur dioxide (SO2) emissions over the next three years.
“We applaud the EPA’s action to protect our health. This decision will make the air we share cleaner and the quality of our lives better,” said Christine Guhl , Sierra Club Field Organizer.
Under the EPA rule, GenOn will have to reduce SO2 emissions from the Portland coal plant by 81% over three years. GenOn will also have to meet an interim reduction requirement within 12 months. This interim requirement is 60% of currently permitted levels or 46% of the SO2 emissions reported in 2010.
In addition to the SO2 emissions, GenOn Portland emits hundreds of pounds of mercury each year. The plant is also responsible for thousands of tons of coal ash that get transported to a dump site in Bangor, PA. The MAPLE coalition is calling on GenOn to shut down the Portland plant and invest in clean, renewable energy.
“While we applaud EPA’s decision, we know that it will only have a positive impact if Portland is held accountable under the terms of EPA’s finding. The Council urges the EPA to ensure that Portland meets the proposed emissions requirements as expeditiously as possible,” said Katie Feeney, Policy Analyst at Clean Air Council. “If GenOn cannot make progress to clean up its act, we urge them to close this facility and transition to renewable sources of energy such as wind and solar.”
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