Last week's major news was the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announcing that it will reconsider the midnight memo issued by former Administrator Steven Johnson, meaning that new coal-fired power plants could soon be forced address their carbon dioxide pollution, the main cause of global warming.
Now the coal-fired power plants are starting to fall in response. First was AES announcing that it's pulling plans for its 320-megawatt Shady Point coal plant in Oklahoma. Then on Friday, EPA rejected Northern Michigan University's air permit for its proposed coal plant in Marquette and ordered Michigan's Department of Environmental Quality to consider regulating carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases.
We're expecting these announcements to keep coming as the cost of dirty coal power is increasing due to impending carbon regulations.
You can help stop one planned coal-fired plant -- the Desert Rock facility in Arizona.
Say "Cheese" for Clean Cars
On March 5, the EPA will hold a hearing in Washington, DC, to consider granting California a waiver to implement clean car standards that would reduce greenhouse gas emissions from passenger cars and trucks. Fourteen other states have adopted CA's standards and are also waiting for the green light. These states cover 40% of the U.S. auto market. Implementing clean car standards would make a huge dent in our global warming emissions
While you may not be able to fly your private jet to the hearing, there's still a way for you to be in the room. Just take a picture of yourself, your family and friends, holding car keys and email it to us. At the hearing we'll present 1000s of photos with this message: "EPA Holds the Keys to Clean Cars!"
Living on Earth: Kicking Coal
The Sierra Club's Bruce Nilles (head of our Move Beyond Coal campaign) was interviewed on the radio program "Living on Earth" this week in a segment entitled "Kicking Coal." The interview also includes Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm and Wisconsin Governor Jim Doyle, as well as new EPA head Lisa Jackson.