WildEarth Guardians

Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Coloradoans Challenge Xcel's Coal-Fired Power Plant in Boulder

Citizens Oppose Valmont's Permit to Pollute and Demand a Future Beyond Coal
Contact: WildEarth Guardians

BOULDER, Colo.-While President Obama joined international leaders in discussing climate solutions, and in the wake of a Greenpeace action calling for climate leaders on Mt. Rushmore last week, Coloradoans, joined by local environmental groups, gathered in Boulder to take the national energy message home and oppose an air pollution permit renewal for Xcel Energy’s Valmont coal-fired power plant, demanding a future beyond coal.

“Clean air starts with holding Xcel accountable to our health and well-being,” said Jeremy Nichols, Climate and Energy Program Director for WildEarth Guardians. “Xcel has already received more than 15,000 MW of clean energy bids - that’s more than enough to meet Colorado’s electric demand, yet we’re still stuck in the dark ages of coal energy. It’s time to power past coal and toward clean energy solutions, starting with decommissioning the Valmont plant.”

Community members held a “Beyond Coal” rally on Pearl St. Mall with music, family activities and an array of speakers. Attendees held signs and banners announcing the time has come to “Power Past Coal” before taking their message to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment in a formal public hearing on the renewal of Valmont’s pollution permit. Led by Clean Energy Action and WildEarth Guardians, and joined by Sierra Club, Greenpeace, Rainforest Action Network, Natural Capitalism Solutions and others, groups spoke about the threats coal-fired power poses to the health and public safety of their community and the potential gains of clean energy investment.

Hundreds gathered to give public testimony opposing the renewal of Valmont’s operating permit and many started their statements by providing “naughty” lumps of coal to the commissioners. Permits are re-evaluated every five years and for its permit to be renewed, the power plant’s emissions of carbon dioxide, sulfur dioxide, particulates and other substances must be below the levels set by the Clean Air Act. Attendees added their concerns that the Valmont plant may also derail Boulder’s commitment to the U.S. Mayor’s Climate Protection Agreement and to meeting Colorado’s Renewable Portfolio Standard. WildEarth Guardians found little hope in meeting pre-established climate protection goals without a major shift of focus from Xcel Energy, Colorado’s largest utility.

Xcel Energy has already ceded to demands from Coloradoans for environmental protection, but attendees claim they haven’t gone far enough. “What’s really at stake here is beginning the discussion about the future of coal, especially here in Colorado,” said Rebecca Sobel, Grassroots Director of WildEarth Guardians. “Colorado has an abundance of renewable resources coupled with scientific and engineering expertise awaiting the political will for large scale implementation. We’re thankful Xcel has listened to our consumer demand for cleaner technologies and we’re looking forward to working with them in bringing their dirty power offline.”

Xcel’s coal-fired power plants are major sources of harmful air pollution. “Xposing Xcel: the Toll of Coal on Colorado,” a report by WildEarth Guardians found that Xcel’s coal-fired power plants in Colorado release nearly 25% of the state’s toxic air pollution, including 45% of all mercury emissions. The report also found that Xcel’s plants are the largest source of global warming pollution in Colorado, releasing 17% of all carbon dioxide in the state.

The Front Range, including Boulder County, is already in current violation of federal health standards that limit-ground level ozone and the Valmont plant continues to derail progress of clean air regulations. The Valmont plant emits 8,792 pounds of toxic air pollution each year and spews 2,514 tons of nitrogen oxides annually - as much pollution as is released by 131,623 cars causing ground level ozone, the key ingredient to smog.

“Coloradoans can’t afford to spend another year endangering the health and climate of our state and country,” added Nichols. “The West can more than meet our energy demand with clean and renewable resources if the utilities and politicians decide to make doing so a priority. We’re here today to tell our leaders that safeguarding our future is worth investing in renewables.”

The report is available at ../support_docs/report_xposing-xcel1.pdf.

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