Enforcement Update

Xcel Energy's coal burning Pawnee Power Plant, located in Morgan County northeast of Denver, last year spewed over 26,000,000 pounds of sulfur dioxide pollution, more than the four other coal burning power plants in the Denver metro area combined. On a per-megawatt basis, the one coal-fired boiler at the Pawnee power plant also releases more nitrogen oxides.

What's worse, all this pollution is illegal. In 2002, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency cited Xcel Energy for illegally upgrading the Pawnee power plant without installing up-to-date pollution controls. For over four years now, this enforcement action has remained unresolved. All the while Xcel has been fouling the air.

One thought on why this enforcement action has gone nowhere so far is because of some uncertainty about what constitutes an illegal upgrade. Fortunately, the U.S. Supreme Court instilled some certainty earlier this week.

In the wake of the Supreme Court's ruling, hopefully the Environmental Protection Agency will follow through with its enforcement and secure the clean air we need. Our health depends on it.