Thank Ted Strickland: Ohio Has 3 Of The Dirtiest Coal Plants in Nation

[irishbobcat]

Thank Ted Strickland: Ohio Has 3 Of The Dirtiest Coal Plants in Nation For Mercury Pollution

In a story from yesterday's Colembus Dispatch:

Three Ohio power plants are among the top 50 "dirtiest" in the U.S. for the mercury they emit from their smokestacks, according to a report released today.

American Electric Power's Gavin plant along the Ohio River in Gallia County more than doubled its output, emitting 937 pounds of mercury in 2008 compared to 435 pounds it released in 2007.

That was enough to rank Gavin 12 on the Environmental Integrity Project's list.

The Washington D.C.-based advocacy group used pollution data on 467 coal fired power plants that utilities report each year to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's toxic release inventory to compile its rankings. AEP's Conesville plant in Coshocton County, pictured above, was No. 14 on the list with 898 pounds of mercury emitted.

FirstEnergy's Sammis plant, along the Ohio River in Jefferson County ranked No. 44 with 498 pounds of mercury in 2008. Mercury is linked to nerve and kidney damage in children and is linked to brain damage and mental retardation in fetuses.

The U.S. EPA considers coal fired power plants "the largest human-caused source of mercury emissions to the air in the United States."

It's one of the most common pollutants found in Ohio's lakes, streams and fish. That's prompted a statewide Ohio EPA advisory that residents should eat no more than one meal of locally caught fish per week.

And Ted Strickland is a "Green" Governor? Thanks to Ted Strickland being in bed with the dirty coal lobbyists Ohio continues to pollute the air and streams of this great state with mercury. And it will only get worse with Ted Strickland as Governor, Ted propses to keep 75% of Ohio's power sources to remain coal fired plants. It's time we elect a Green Party Governor to Ohio to help clean our state's natural resources.