Global Warming

Raleigh--In a move estimated to increase North Carolina’s global warming pollution by 5.7 million tons annually, today state officials gave final approval for a new coal-fired power plant boiler at Duke Energy’s Cliffside Steam Station west of Charlotte. 

Environment North Carolina criticized the decision, pointing to the projected increase in global warming pollution.

“When you find yourself in a hole, the first thing you should do is stop digging,” said Elizabeth Ouzts, Environment North Carolina State Director.  “Instead, Duke Energy is digging us deeper into the hole of dangerous global warming.” 

The new 800 MW plant is projected to emit over 6 million tons of carbon dioxide, a leading contributor to global warming, each year.  Even with the retirement of four smaller boilers at the Cliffside Station, the new plant will still result in an overall increase in global warming pollution of an estimated 5.7 million tons per year.  That’s because the most recent U.S. Environmental Protection Agency data available shows that the retiring 60-year old boilers release just over 500,000 tons of carbon dioxide annually.[1]

To avoid the worst consequences of global warming, scientists believe that the U.S. needs to reduce global warming emissions by 15 to 20 percent by 2020, and cut them by 80 percent or more by the middle of this century.

In granting the permit, air quality officials lauded a two-page attachment to the 100-plus page final permit, which documented Duke Energy’s agreement to close down 800 MW of power in future years, and to undertake other “actions that will render Cliffside 6 carbon neutral by 2018.” 

Environment North Carolina called the agreement too little, too late.

“Duke Energy has the technology at its fingertips to start reducing global warming pollution now,” said Ouzts.  “So it’s not much consolation that in ten years, they’ll pollute the same amount as they do today.”