Again, thanks for voting for pollution, Red Staters, and Red Stater-wannabes.
Mercury pollution from coal-fired power plants is increasing nationwide, even as the Bush administration touts an overall decline in toxic chemicals released by industry into the environment.Though total mercury emissions decreased less than 2 percent from 2003 to 2004, the amount blown into the air by power plants increased 4 percent, a Tribune analysis of newly released federal data shows.
Coal plants in 28 states, including Illinois, put more mercury into the air during 2004 than the year before, offsetting lower amounts of the hazardous metal from plants elsewhere.
The increase is of particular concern in states like Illinois that rely heavily on coal to generate electricity, environmental groups say, because mercury tends to fall back to earth close to its source, and it takes only a small amount to contaminate waterways.
Coal plants spew more mercury
...Heightened awareness about the dangers of mercury exposure has led politicians in Illinois and several other states to propose their own limits on emissions from power plants.Gov. Rod Blagojevich is pushing state rules that would give coal plants in Illinois three years to reduce mercury pollution by 90 percent.
Michigan Gov. Jennifer Granholm recently moved to force coal plants in her state to make similar reductions by 2015. Pennsylvania, Minnesota and Georgia also are considering state rules.
Utilities contend the proposals would be too costly and provide few if any health benefits. They back the national proposal, which would give the industry until at least 2017 to cut emissions by 70 percent and let companies trade the right to pollute.
Utilities always complain that environmental policies cost too much, always, without fail, while simultaneously bragging in their prospectus how profitable they are. Bleh.
Tags: Energy, /environment, /mercury
