DEQ needs to hear from you – close the Boardman coal plant!

The Boardman coal plant in eastern Oregon

Until the end of September, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality is taking input from the public on the future of the Boardman coal fired power plant. DEQ needs to hear from you in support of Option 3, and close the plant as soon as 2015.

Click here to send a comment to DEQ and the Governor!

Portland General Electric (PGE) wants to operate its dirty and outdated Boardman coal-fired power plant until late 2020 with limited pollution controls, despite decades of operation without modern pollution controls to control haze, sulfur dioxide, mercury and more. DEQ has already rejected this plan once but PGE is redoubling its effort to convince DEQ to allow the state’s only coal fired power plant off the hook….again.

If PGE doesn’t get its way, its threatening to install over a half billion dollars in required pollution controls to reduce annual output of acid rain and haze causing pollution but then operate the plant for several more decades, releasing staggering amounts of additional global warming pollution in the process.

The fact is, the longer the plant is in operation, the more it costs rate payers, public health, and the environment.

Click here to send a letter to DEQ to stand up for strong air quality standards and the earliest possible closure for the Boardman coal plant!

In addition to taking written comments, the DEQ is holding five public hearings around the state. Please attend one in your area and support Option 3, closing the Boardman plant as soon as possible.

DEQ Boardman Coal Plant Hearing Schedule – September 2010

All hearings are at 6 pm

9/21–Portland:  Metro Regional Center Council Chambers, 600 NE Grand

9/23–Eugene: Eugene State Office building, Willamette Conf room, 165 E 7th Ave

9/28–Hermiston: Hermiston Conf Center, 4151 S Hwy 395

9/29–Medford: DEQ Medford Office, Suite 201

9/30–The Dalles:  Columbia Gorge Community College, Health Sciences Building 3 Romm 3.203, 400 E Scenic Dr

Coal mined in the Powder River Basin on the Montana/Wyoming border supplies PGE's Boardman coal fired power plant.

For more info contact Robin Everett at robin.everett@sierraclub.org 503-238-0442 x 307