NC WARN:  Waste Awareness & Reduction Network 

News Release                                                                                      Contact: Jim Warren
March 19, 2008                                                                                                 919-416-5077

Environmental Groups Challenge Permit for Cliffside Power Plant

State cut corners, worked with Duke Energy to promote a flawed plan, critics say

Statement from Jim Warren, Executive Director of NC WARN:  

Durham, NC – State regulators ignored various federal and state pollution laws in granting Duke Energy a permit to build a contentious coal-fired power plant west of Charlotte, and construction of the $2.4 billion dollar plant begun last month should be stopped.  That’s what NC WARN told an administrative law judge in a legal petition filed today.  We are pleased to stand alongside Appalachian Voices, which filed a separate appeal today as described in their press statement.

Despite assertions by Duke Energy and the State, the Cliffside plant would seriously increase the emission of toxic air pollution and greenhouse gases at the worst possible time.  Even worse, Duke is pursuing this risky plant although industry records prove there is a glut of electricity capacity in the Southeast for decades to come. Highlights of NC WARN’s complaint include:

1)  Despite legislative attempts to allow Duke to avoid complying with the Clean Air Act, which requires the best equipment for reducing sulfur and nitrogen emissions, regulators still violated the law by allowing lesser controls than used by other plants, and by not requiring analysis of regional impacts of the pollutants.  

2)  The State violated federal law by not requiring Duke Energy to install the stringent pollution controls for mercury and dozens of other toxins; equipment that’s in use at many U.S. plants.  Under heated public pressure at the time the permit was issued, the State and Duke began claiming Cliffside would remove mercury at higher levels than shown in the draft permit – a paper change without any equipment upgrade.  Replying to that charge, the State’s top air pollution official said he will fine Duke if pollution limits are exceeded.  That’s a mere cost of doing business for the giant utility – not a safeguard for public health.

3)  Under increasing criticism for trying to build what critics dubbed a “global warming machine,” Duke Energy and the State belatedly rolled out a “Greenhouse Gas Reduction Plan” they allege would offset Cliffside’s 6 million tons of annual carbon emissions.  Today, NC WARN argued that the scheme is nothing but propaganda designed to mute public concerns.  It is unenforceable and would do little to offset greenhouse gases emitted from Cliffside.  Several small plants Duke proposes to retire emit far less CO₂ than would the new unit, because they operate only in the hottest and coldest weather. 

4)  Because the permit is valid for less than nine months, and the State has not offered any rationale for the limited time period, we are concerned that Duke plans major modifications that will not go through the public comment and hearing process. 

On Monday, NC WARN publicized Duke Energy documents showing that despite Duke CEO Jim Rogers’ PR offensive touting support for energy efficiency and his “Save-a-Watt” plan, the company projects less than 2% total energy savings over the next 20 years.  A statewide coalition of citizen groups continues a vigorous campaign pressuring Rogers to walk his green talk and cancel the plant. 

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