Where there's a Will, there's a way

One of the exciting things about the clean energy agreement between the Sierra Club and CWLP is that once the agreement was reached, environmentalists, local unions, and the utility were all standing on the same side for a deal that created new jobs while protecting the environment. It was a win-win for everybody, including the public who will get cleaner air and fewer global warming emissions.

Something similar is happening in Granite City, IL where environmental groups just reached an agreement with Sun Coke and US Steel. Here's the press release form the Sierra Club:

For Immediate Release

April 30, 2008

Environmental Groups Reach Landmark Agreement with Sun Coke and US Steel; Sets National Standard for Pollution Control and Provides $5 Million Fund for Local Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Reductions

Granite City, IL—American Bottom Conservancy and Sierra Club have reached a landmark settlement agreement with Sun Coal and Coke and United States Steel Corporation that will pave the way for a new coke plant and a cogeneration facility to be built in Granite City, Illinois, home of US Steel's Granite City Works. The agreement resulted in perhaps the first permit in the country to regulate fine particulates, known as PM 2.5, and will provide a $5 million environmental fund for local projects that reduce air pollution and global-warming greenhouse gases.

Granite City is part of the Greater St. Louis Air Quality Region and has some of the highest readings in the country of PM 2.5, a pollutant that can reach deep into the lungs and cause heart and lung disease and premature death. The high PM 2.5 levels in Granite City are largely responsible for the entire St. Louis region failing to meet federal air quality standards for fine particulates. The area also violates national health-based air quality standards for ozone.

"Granite City has long been known for its air pollution," said Mark Feldworth, a Granite City resident and board member of American Bottom Conservancy (ABC). "We have many children here with asthma. We certainly want to keep jobs here, but it is important that we also have cleaner air for our families. We are hoping this agreement will do both."

"The tighter permits and the fund for additional pollution control projects should help the area to have cleaner air," said Bob Larson, Sierra Club Piasa Palisades Chapter delegate. "It's quite an achievement." Added Verena Owen, Illinois Sierra Club Global Warming chair: "I'm always happy when we can help find workable solutions to global warming."

"This agreement leads the way out of an 11-year period when pollution sources and federal and state agencies have virtually ignored fine particulate matter in issuing air pollution permits," said Maxine Lipeles, director of Washington University Interdisciplinary Environmental Clinic, which prepared comments on the permits and helped negotiate the agreement.

"We are so excited about this agreement and so grateful to the Clinic," said Kathy Andria, a Granite City native who is president of ABC and a member of Illinois Sierra Club's Clean Air Committee. "The Clinic has been working on behalf of ABC since the Fall of 2005, reviewing applications and permits and preparing technical comments. We could not have achieved the more protective permits and this agreement without the expertise, guidance and dedication of Clinic students, engineers and attorneys and a technical consultant funded by Sierra Club. I am especially excited about the environment fund and look forward to seeing projects that will help the city, schools, park and library districts improve their energy efficiency and air quality and educate students and residents about air pollution and global warming. It will be a first step in helping to make Granite City green and clean."

The agreement was also hailed by Alison Horton, Sierra Club representative to the Blue Green Alliance, a partnership between the United Steelworkers and the Sierra Club. "This agreement is good for the City, helps the environment and is good for workers. It's win-win-win."

The agreement requires Sun Coke to use the latest technology specifically designed for controlling fine particulate matter, achieving greater than 99.99% pollution removal. Said Wash U Clinic Director Lipeles: "Other facilities currently in the permitting pipeline—and other state and federal agencies—should take note."

A copy of the settlement agreement can be found at law.wustl.edu/intenv.

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