Mercury Reductions Secured

Coal burning power plants will significantly reduce mercury emissions in Colorado in the coming years, thanks to an agreement reached between utility companies, local public health agencies, and advocacy groups.

The recent agreement culminates a long, drawn out process where utility companies here in Colorado stonewalled efforts to secure actual reductions in mercury emissions, even though recent data shows that coal burning power plants release more mercury than ever before and even though the list of waterbodies contaminated with mercury continues to grow.

Thankfully, Colorado utility companies agreed to a healthy compromise where mercury emissions from Xcel's Pawnee Station near Brush and the Platte River Power Authority's Rawhide Energy Station near Fort Collins must be reduced by 80% by 2012. Other power plants will be required to meet similar reductions by 2014.

But really, what we're most thankful for is that people like Vickie Patton with Environmental Defense, Pam Milmoe with the Boulder County Public Health, and Gregg Thomas with Denver Department of Environmental Health stood up for what's best for our health and stood firm in their commitment to securing significant mercury reductions. Their efforts are to be commended.