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Roughly half of the electricity generated in the United States still comes from burning coal in power plants. While touted as cheap energy, coal exacts a price far higher than what we pay in utility bills. Burning coal for electricity produces 34 percent of global warming pollution in the United States, releases harmful toxic pollution into our air and water and prevents us from building a clean energy future. Launch the interactive feature to learn more about pollution from coal plants.
Despite these and other impacts, the coal power industry still wants to build new coal-fired power plants, even though cleaner, safer alternatives exist. Earthjustice is working to break our addiction to coal in order to create a level playing field for a clean, renewable energy future.
Historic Victory For Clean Air
The Environmental Protection Agency has released standards that will clean up toxic air emissions from power plants across the nation, thanks in no small part to years of Earthjustice attorney James Pew's determined litigation on behalf of community, environmental and public health groups.
Coal plants are far and away the nation's worst toxic polluters. Every year, the pollution causes exacerbated asthma, heart problems, hospital visits—and premature death, especially among vulnerable populations like children, the elderly and people with asthma.
Spotlight on TransAlta
The TransAlta coal-fired power plant is Washington state's largest single source of air pollution. It produces large amounts of global warming pollution, fills rivers, lakes, and other waters with mercury, and obscures national parks and wilderness areas—including the majestic Mt. Rainier—with haze. Learn more about what Earthjustice is doing to clean up Washington state's biggest polluter.
Click the image above to learn more about the costs to public health and the environment associated with Washington's continued reliance on the TransAlta coal plant, a dirty, dangerous and outdated source of energy.
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