Snyder Administration Approves Permit for new Coal Plant in Rogers City, a plant that will likely never be built
On June 29, 2011 the Snyder Administration approved a permit for the construction of a new coal-fired power plant in Rogers City.
We've given a red mark to Governor Snyder on this one. The coal plant, which will purportedly be built by Wolverine Power Supply Cooperative, will place a huge financial burden on ratepayers, raising the average residential customer's rate by nearly 60 percent - or $76.95 per month. It will also limit the potential for job growth in the clean energy market.
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The irony of this situation is that, in 2010, the same request for a permit was denied because of a failure to show the need for another coal plant in Michigan. The Department of Natural Resources concluded that any demand for new energy could be met with clean energy sources. It is unclear how and why the Snyder Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) reversed an earlier decision that was firmly based on need (or the lack there of).
An additional irony is that even a spokesman for the power cooperative, said that Wolverine is pleased by the "significant milestone," but it will need to take a more thorough look at the permit requirements and the company's finances before it decides whether to build the plant. When they look at the finances it will be obvious that the state is wasting money on an industry that imports 100% of coal to Michigan, and is far more expensive than renewable energy and energy efficiency.
The impact of this decision is, in some ways, more connected to the message sent to Michiganders that the state of Michigan is endorsing continued reliance on old, dirty coal. As CEO of the state of Michigan, we are looking to Governor Snyder for leadership on clean, renewable energy, which would move our state forward in the energy market. Decisions like this one send the wrong signal to voters about Michigan’s energy future.
Coal-fired power plants have been a health hazard in Michigan for decades and the dangerous emissions from coal plants, especially mercury and carbon dioxide, have been linked to increased rates of asthma and cardiovascular problems in our state. This announcement by the DEQ also comes on the tail of a powerful report just released, The Public Health Impacts of Old Coal-Fired Power Plants in Michigan, by the Michigan Environmental Council highlighting the public health impacts and costs of old coal-fired power plants in Michigan.
Although thousands of Michigan citizens have called for clean energy solutions and voiced their opposition to new coal-powered plants, their voices seem to have gone unheard.
With many energy alternatives available in our state, we are disappointed with the Snyder Administration’s decision. The Governor has settled for an energy source that will raise consumer energy bills, and hit ratepayers hard. What's more he's settling for the same-old, outdated energy sources that are linked to increases in asthma, cardiovascular diseases and contribute to harmful greenhouse gas emissions.
Call Governor Snyder's office and tell him how disappointed you are with this decision, and why Michigan needs to jumpstart the clean energy future: (517) 335-7858.
>This decision was given a red mark on How Green Is Your Governor? Click here for details...
Photo cred: coalisdirty.com
