North Carolina has some of the nation's most toxic air pollution, according a list of the top 20 states with air pollution issued by the Natural Resources Defense Council.
This state ranks 10th in the nation for power plant pollutants such as mercury, hydrochloric acid and other hazardous materials. The NRDC based its ranking on the Environmental Protection Agency's Toxics Release Inventory from 2009.
The NRDC issued the data today as part of the environmental lobby's attempt to undercut conservative efforts in Washington to weaken EPA regulations. Conservatives have expressed concern that pollution restrictions impose financial burdens on businesses and are therefore harmful to the economy.
The NRDC report gives a one-year snapshot, suggesting the problem is dire. However, the EPA's web site shows that levels of airborne toxins -- which contribute to asthma, birth defects and other health issues -- dropped in North Carolina in 2009 to one-third the levels of 2002, falling from about 97 million pounds to about 34 million pounds.
An NRDC spokeswoman said the toxins should be eliminated from the atmosphere altogether.
Coal-burning power plants, which account for more than half this state's electricity, are among the nation's biggest sources of industrial pollution and account for 49 percent of North Carolina's toxic pollution.
Both Progress Energy and Duke Energy have plans to close older, dirtier coal plants.
Raleigh-based Progress is replacing 11 coal plants with natural gas fired generation while Charlotte-based Duke is building what it calls a state-of-the-art coal-fired plant at its Cliffside complex in the Appalachian foothills.
John Murawski has been a full-time newspaper reporter since 1991, with stints at Legal Times and The Chronicle of Philanthropy (both in Washington, DC), The Philadelphia Inquirer and The Palm Beach Post (in South Florida) before arriving at the N&O in December 2004. At the N&O he covers energy (nuclear, coal, renewable, efficiency), hydralic fracturing (or "fracking"), public utilities (both electric and natural gas) and health care. His beat includes Progress Energy, PSNC Energy, Piedmont Natural Gas, PowerSecure International, GlaxoSmithKline, Merck, Novo Nordisk, Pfizer, Biogen Idec and others. You can reach him at 919-829-8932 or
Comments
"This state ranks 10th in
Wed, 07/20/2011 - 19:19 — cityofoaksboy"This state ranks 10th in the nation for power plant pollutants such as mercury, hydrochloric acid and other hazardous materials."
This state..
Wed, 07/20/2011 - 20:40 — whollarHow would this affect the stripped tree canopy in Mecklenberg and the Piedmont?
I guess you're referencing
Wed, 07/20/2011 - 23:00 — cityofoaksboyI guess you're referencing permanent deforestation resulting from development. I'm not. We've got five and a half million acres of forest in North Carolina that need silvicultural treatment (i.e. some type of harvest) to improve its health and vigor. Using woody biomass for energy would provide a new market that would allow this treatment, thereby helping keep more land forested rather than developed.
Environmental Grup.
Wed, 07/20/2011 - 17:53 — henryeNext it will be the Sun is getting near the Earth because we are eating to much and natural gas is going to cause us to burn up in space. Is it possible what we are going through today is a normal occurance. if we really had an ice age then we had to have had another Global warming before..So for one I am not worried about it.
Environmental Grope
Wed, 07/20/2011 - 20:37 — whollarNo, it is not possible this time. No need to worry about it though, as every responsible, cognizant person will try to protect your family, and you. No need to believe in science, because it is the basis for Scientology, you betcha'.
I am so confused
Wed, 07/20/2011 - 16:28 — stevemichaelsJut a few months ago Raleigh was named a top green city? what are we green or smog brown?