Is Living Downwind From The Centralia Steam Plant Dangerous? (Yelm: credit, utilities)

[stonecypher5413]

According to my research on the Net, the Centralia Steam Plant (coal-fired) is the single largest producer of sulfur dioxide in the state (WA) and is the second dirtiest producer of electricity west of the Mississippi (after Four Corners).

The brown haze from this plant is evidently ruining not only the air quality, but the majestic views in places like Olympic and Mount Rainier National Parks. The state has not required the plant to install stronger pollution controls. Doug Howell with the Sierra Club says that the plant’s air quality permits are up for renewal and its owners are in negotiations with the State of Washington…but so far, the state hasn’t been tough enough. And Transalta, the plant's owner, has projected 25 more years of local coal production to power the plant.

Not to get into a debate on jobs vs. quality of life, but I'd like to know which areas around the plant are most at risk for air particulate pollution.

What are the prevailing winds around the plant? Is Tenino in the fallout path? How about Rainier and Yelm?

Just planning ahead...thanks for any input.

[509]

I don't know about health effects of coal fired electric plants.

But I do know that according to the Forest Service and National Park Service that plant and the one in Boardman, Oregon have done more to reduce visibility in the northwest than any other source.

Time to shut down the coal fired electric plants and replace them with nuclear, or solar (wind sucks) NOW!!

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by 509

...Time to shut down the coal fired electric plants and replace them with nuclear,

Bring WPPSS plants back 'on line' There was one pretty close to Centralia.

S_C, the prevailing winds at Centralia are easterly / westerly, you can check with the local airports for wind conditions and history.

The PNW utilities generate lots of credits from cleaner power sources which allows them to run extra strong on pollution. (same will happen with carbon-credits; it's all about economics and making the consumers carry the burden, both health and financial ), 'traded offsets' and Government intervention really screw up businesses)

they should be running the coal exhaust through algae beds and shipping the algae to Grays Harbor for Bio-D production. Then, instead of shipping our prime Bio-D to Europe, we should be using it in heavy commercial polluting equip with high risk of spills (tug boats and trains). Not forcing renewable fuel standards on the 50 mpg clean diesel cars that get used 20 min per day , more useless government intervention. Here we come CARB... (WA & OR - the wimps), hallelujah .