AIR

PEAC is committed to tackling the environmental causes and impacts of global warming. One way we express this commitment is through our critical work on air quality. From halting the building of chemical factories and coal-fired power plants to advising rule-makers on how to clean up Northwest skies to monitoring pollution permits, PEAC has achieved critical victories and tackled ambitious and far-reaching projects, including those below.

Launching Suit to Clean Up Coal

Sept. 30, 2008 -- PEAC filed a complaint against the Portland General Electric (PGE) Boardman facility for past and continuing violations of the Clean Air Act and Oregon State Implementation Plan. Representing the Sierra Club, Northwest Environmental Defense Center (NEDC), Friends of the Columbia Gorge, Columbia Riverkeeper, and Hells Canyon Presevation Council, PEAC notified PGE of its intention to sue in January 2008, but because the alleged violations were not remedied, PEAC filed a formal complaint with the federal court of Oregon.

May 13, 2008 -- Today a KOIN News video broadcast revealed "Oregon's dirty little secret," bringing to light the environmental problems caused by PGE's Boardman coal-fired power plant. Watch additional video coverage by KGW and KATU, and read press reports.

March 5, 2008 -- A scientific study links PGE’s Boardman plant to 50% of Columbia Gorge air pollution. Read the press release.

February 27, 2008 -- In addition to being the largest stationary source of greenhouse gases in Oregon, the PGE Boardman plant emits more than half the haze clouding up the Columbia River Gorge, confirmed today by a University of Washington report commissioned by the Yakama tribes. The widely-reported study bolsters PEAC's commitment to forcing PGE to comply with the Clean Air Act.

Jan. 15, 2008 -- On behalf of several conservation groups, PEAC notified Portland General Electric (PGE) of its intention to file suit against the utility company for failure to comply with the Clean Air Act. Specifically, PEAC seeks to halt the harmful violations stemming from PGE's 615-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Boardman, constructed without modern pollution controls and the single largest stationary source of air and global warming pollution in all of Oregon. Read the official Notice of Intent to Sue and the Sierra Club's press release.

More information about the PGE Boardman conflict and January's joint press conference can be found here.

Shelving Coal

Nov. 27, 2007 -- PEAC helped to halt the building of a coal-fired power plant proposed for Kalama, Washington on the Columbia River. This important victory for the region resulted from a collaboration with Columbia Riverkeeper, the Rosemere Neighborhood Association, and the Willapa Hills Audobon Society.

Read the decision of the Energy Facility Siting Council (EFSEC) to table the coal-burning plant because the applicant violated Washington's new law requiring a carbon sequestration plan for all new coal-fired power plants. EFSEC's decision highlights the public's commitment to addressing global climate change. PEAC Staff Attorneys Aubrey Baldwin and Allison LaPlante worked with Lewis & Clark law student Naeem Nulwala on the case.

Here Comes Goliath

Read the Nov. 6 frontpage article in the Oregonian quoting PEAC's Allison LaPlante on PGE-Boardman's insufficient proposal to meet federal clean air rules aimed at reducing regional haze. PGE-Boardman is Oregon's worst air polluter, operating for decades without modern pollution controls while other plants have been forced to clean up. PEAC's involvement is part of our Pacific Vistas initiative.

Learn more about the problems with PGE-Boardman.