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• Coal-fired power plants are the single largest stationary source of air pollution in Tennessee.  Currently seven coal-fired power plants are located in the state: Allen, Bull Run, Cumberland, Gallatin, John Sevier, Johnsonville, and Kingston.  The toxins these plants produce severely damage both human health and the environment and contribute to a reduced quality of life for citizens of and visitors to our state.  Cleaning up these plants and finding cleaner, alternative energy sources is central to achieving clean, healthy air in Tennessee.
  
  
• Even a glance at studies done on the health and environmental effects of air pollution indicates the seriousness of our air pollution problems.  All of Tennessee's 4 largest cities (Memphis, Knoxville, Chattanooga, and Nashville) rank in the top 25 most ozone polluted cities.  Tennessee ranks #3 nationwide in toxins released into our air.  In 1997, Tennessee experienced an estimated 1,440 deaths, 910 hospitalizations, and 27,100 asthma attacks attributed to power plant pollution.  Pollution levels in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park often exceed that of nearby urban areas by 200%, and reduce visibility in the park from 100 miles to 25.
  
  
• Air pollution consists of a mixture of chemicals with various harmful effects on the human body, wildlife, plants, and climate.  The main ingredients of air pollution are the following:
  
  
  • Ozone Smog: Formed at ground level when sunlight mixes with nitrogen oxides and hydrocarbon vapors emitted by power plants, vehicles, and industry.  It contributes to airway irritation, coughing, wheezing, asthma attacks, and immune suppression.
    
    
  • Sulfur Dioxide (SO2): Gas emitted through burning coal and oil, that converts into acid gases (sulfuric acid) and sulfur particulate matter (pm).  Health effects include: airway irritation, heart rhythm destabilization, and asthma attacks.
    
    
  • Nitrogen Oxide (NOx): General term for NO/O2 hazes formed from burning coal, oil, natural gas, and gasoline.  It is a main ingredient in acid rain and ozone smog.
    
    
  • Particulate Matter (PM): Soil, soot, SO2, and NOx particles from power plants, cars, and factories that are tiny enough to penetrate indoor spaces and deep into the lungs.  They can trigger premature death from heart attacks, lung diseases, and cancer in adults; and stunted lung growth, low birth weight, neurological impairment, and SIDS in children.
    
    
  • Mercury (Hg): Toxic metal particles settle in water, contaminate fish, and move up the food chain. Mercury ingestion can result in premature birth, low birth weight, structural defects, learning disorders, heart and neurological defects.
    
    
  • Carbon Dioxide (CO2): Gas layer that blankets the planet and traps heat in the lower atmosphere. Global warming affects every ecosystem on the planet with drastic health, environmental, humanitarian, and economic consequences.  (for more information on global warming, click here).
    
    
• One of the main obstacles to cleaning up coal-fired power plants is a series of legal loopholes exempting old, dirty plants from using modern pollution control technologies to meet clean air standards.  Prior to recent Bush administration policy changes, old power plants were required to update their facilities only when expanding or significantly altering the facilities.  This "New Source Review" loophole made it possible for old power plants to continue spewing out toxins year after year, despite the ready availability of cleaner technologies.  The Bush administration's plan, however, makes the situation even worse.  Under the new policy, updating facilities so they comply with Clean Air Act standards is strictly voluntary.  Old and heavily polluting power plants are under no requirement to clean up their power generation processes.  What a loss! --  abiding by Clean Air Act standards would reduce SOx and NOx emissions by 75%-80%; many of TVA's coal-fired power plants emit up to 10 times more pollution than newer power plants.
  

• Participating as a member of the TN Clean Air Task Force (TCATF), a coalition formed to reduce air pollution from TVA's 11 coal-fired power plants in Tennessee.  Activities include: holding press conferences, conducting interviews with reporters, raising issues at meetings of the Air Pollution Control Board and the Air Pollution Control Division of TDEC.

• Representing environmental interests on the TVA Green Group, a coalition of organizations that meets regularly with and provides input to TVA on their programs and policies.

• Working with the Department of Environment and Conservation to improve efficiency of air pollution permitting process without weakening statewide standards or lessening public participation.

• Participating as a member of the Tennessee Pollution Prevention Roundtable (P2R), which seeks methods to prevent the release of pollutants from commercial activities beyond regulatory compliance.

• Advocating for air toxic regulations in Tennessee that go beyond federal laws.
  

• Helped organized local opposition to the construction and operation of proposed power plants in Memphis and Jackson, preventing projected emission of more than 248 tons of nitrogen oxides and carbon monoxide.
  

• Conserve energy in your home and work place.
  

• Buy fuel efficient vehicles and keep them in good operating condition.
  

• Use energy efficient appliances and forms of transportation and recreation.

• Contact your elected officials and insist upon:
  

• Coal-fired power plants being held to modern pollution control standards using up-to-date technologies
  

• Emissions standards for CO2 and Mercury, as these harmful chemicals are unregulated.
  

• Vigorous investment in cleaner energy alternatives such as wind power, solar, and methane gas
  

• Swift and secure steps by the state of Tennessee towards submission and implementation of plans to reduce NOx emissions.  This issue is referred to as "NOx SIP Call -- NOx State Implementation Plan Call).
  

• Denying new merchant power plants permits to operate in Tennessee

 

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