State leaders condemn DOE order on TransAlta coal power generation
Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson, Attorney General Nick Brown, and Ecology Director Casey Sixkiller released a joint statement today in response to the Trump administration’s 11th-hour efforts to prevent the TransAlta power plant in Centralia from ceasing coal power generation at the end of this year.
“Under the guise of ‘emergency powers,’ U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright is attempting to force Washington state’s dirtiest power plant to continue burning coal. Let’s be clear: there’s no emergency here.
“Yet again the Trump administration has conveniently ignored the law and facts. The TransAlta power plant is days away from completing its shutdown – a milestone the company and the state have been working toward since 2011. The workers have moved on. There’s no coal left to burn.
“The Trump administration insists that burning coal is necessary for energy security. In reality, it creates uncertainty in Washington’s power market. Earlier this month, TransAlta announced plans to partner with Puget Sound Energy to convert this facility to a more reliable and efficient energy source to help meet peak power demands.
“Rather than help our state, this absurd move by the Trump administration is more likely to drive up costs and expose Washington communities to more pollution.
“The administration does not care about energy affordability and reliability for consumers. In fact, electricity prices have gone up nationwide over the first year of this administration. Instead of helping states diversify their energy economy, the administration wants to keep a dirty, dying energy source on life support.”
-30-
Washington’s Attorney General serves the people and the state of Washington. As the state’s largest law firm, the Attorney General’s Office provides legal representation to every state agency, board, and commission in Washington. Additionally, the Office serves the people directly by enforcing consumer protection, civil rights, and environmental protection laws. The Office also prosecutes elder abuse, Medicaid fraud, and handles sexually violent predator cases in 38 of Washington’s 39 counties. Visit www.atg.wa.gov to learn more.
Media Contact:
Email: press@atg.wa.gov
Phone: (360) 753-2727
General contacts: Click here
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
