Contact:
Lane Boldman, Sierra Club, 859-552-1173 , 859-252-3422 (evening)
Bart Melton, National Parks Conservation Association, 865-414-6229

Groups Say No to Peabody Coal
Thoroughbred Plant Not the Best Option for Kentucky

A coalition of environmental and community groups asked the Environmental Protection Agency today to reject Peabody’s proposed Thoroughbred coal-fired power plant because of the health and ecological threats posed by the massively polluting plant. In its petition to the EPA the coalition, including the Sierra Club, Valley Watch, National Parks Conservation Association, Natural Resources Defense Council and others, reveals that despite recent advances in pollution control technology, plans for the plant have not changed in the past five years.

"Thoroughbred’s pollution-reduction technology was out-dated when they originally proposed the plant five years ago," said John Blair of Valley Watch. "Peabody is trying to sell us yesterday’s technology at a very high price--our health and our environment."

If built, the Thoroughbred plant, planned for Muhlenberg County will be one of America’s largest and most polluting power plants- emitting thousands of tons of air pollutants that cause smog and are known to cause severe public health problems including asthma and cancer.

"Thoroughbred would spew toxic mercury into Mammoth Cave National Park, already one of the most heavily polluted parks in the nation," said Bart Melton of National Parks Conservation Association. Endangered Indiana bats residing in the park have up to three times more mercury in their systems than is considered safe for people. "Thoroughbred should not be exempted from advanced mercury controls that other new plants around the country are installing," added Melton.

The proposed plant would also be one of the largest new sources of global warming in the United States, emitting over 12 million tons of carbon dioxide annually. This is half of all the carbon dioxide reductions that the seven Northeast states are proposing to cut from all of their power plants annually by 2020.

"We would much prefer to see our state government promote clean, renewable energy sources, energy efficiency, and diversified sources of electricity, to build a vibrant 21st century economy, instead of propping up a dirty 19th century technology like coal," said Ray Barry, Chair of the Kentucky Chapter of the Sierra Club.

Coalition members include the Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council, Valley Watch, National Parks Conservation Association and the Kentucky Environmental Foundation.

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