The EPA is ready to approve 1,500 megawatt coal-fired power plant - without any CO₂ controls - on Navajo land in New Mexico. This means that the Desert Rock coal plant would be allowing over 12.7 million tons of CO₂ greenhouse gases to enter the atmosphere every year (in addition to the other pollutants such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides that are known to cause health issues such as asthma and bronchitis).

As some of you may know, President Obama's nominee to head the EPA, Lisa Jackson, believes in climate change and wants to place stricter, more aggressive controls on CO₂ emissions. Because of her strong position on CO₂, Earthjustice is hoping that bringing this plant to Jackson's attention, the agency will be encouraged to make this plant the first of its kind required by the EPA to use CO₂ controls.

Earthjustice is sponsoring a petition for this movement. But they only have until February 23, 2009 to make their position heard. If you would like more information or if you would like to sign the petition, please visit their site www. Earthjustice.org. 

Stronger CO₂ controls can benefit all of us, especially those of us who live on the Florida coast. In the Jacksonville area we have two coal-fire plants owned by JEA. Stricter regulations passed because of a plant in another area may bring stricter standards for the plants that affect our health and the environment around us. So stay aware and show your support and maybe we can all benefit from this new plant.