Did you know?
17% of Washington’s energy still comes from dirty coal. The TransAlta coal plant, located 50 miles west of Mount Rainier, is Washington’s single largest stationary source of air pollution.
TransAlta pollutes:
- 10 million tons of global warming pollution a year.
- 372 pounds of toxic mercury into our waterways a year. Mercury leads to a variety of health problems, particularly affecting children and fetuses.
- Enough haze pollution to damage a dozen national parks and wilderness areas.
Coal pollution has been linked to four of the top five causes of death in the US (heart disease, cancer, stroke, and chronic lower respiratory diseases).
Transitioning from coal to renewable energy is a chance to create a safer, cleaner, and healthier environment for Washington families.
Washington has the clean energy resources to transition off coal. The Northwest Power and Conservation Council has found that we can meet most of our electricity needs with energy efficiency.
Clean energy production creates up to four times as many jobs as coal. Coal stands as a roadblock to the creation of thousands of safe, local, sustainable jobs.
NOW IS OUR CHANCE
Energy experts tell us that a quick transition off coal is achievable and affordable using the clean energy technology available to us right now.
Governor Christine Gregoire is currently negotiating with the TransAlta coal company about their pollution and has pledged to reach a decision by the end of 2010 and has promised public meetings this summer. This is our opportunity to lead Washington beyond coal by 2015.
However, TransAlta has been pushing the state for a 15-year pass to keep on polluting. We can do better, but so far the Governor’s office has only considered this delayed transition and has not examined what alternatives are available now.
Information provided by Coal Free Washington.
