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Monday, November 15, 2004
Environment - Recent stories
Lead grants. The Fort Wayne Journal Gazette has an editorial today on an investigation into Indiana's failure to receive any recent HUD grants for lead-poisoning education and eradication programs. A quote:
HUD used an outside contractor to review grant applications in an effort to expedite the distribution of the Lead Hazard Control and Healthy Homes grants. It appears the contractor failed to select the most deserving applications. For example, nine Indiana agencies applied for slightly more than $12.5 million of grant money. All were denied, including a $3 million request from the city of Fort Wayne. Meanwhile, a Colorado property developer whom HUD previously fined for violations of lead hazard disclosure rules was lucky enough to receive $2 million. And other approved applications appear ineligible under HUD guidelines.The Journal-Gazette ran an editorial last Friday on the new clean-coal plants "that American Electric Power and Cinergy/PSI want to build in Indiana." It concludes:
Indiana is a desirable location for the plants because of the ready access to coal supplies. According to the National Mining Association, Indiana is ranked ninth in the nation for coal production. In 2002, Indiana produced 33 million tons of coal – much of it going toward electricity production. Coal produces 95 percent of Indiana’s electricity and 50 percent of the nation’s electric power.Recycling. The Terre Haute Tribune Star has a long article today titled "Recycling slowly having impact in Wabash Valley: Indiana State Recycling Center experiences success."The electric companies need the new plants to keep up with increasing demand for energy. Both companies hope to build the plants by 2010 to meet growing electricity needs.
Indiana’s ability to provide coal has long been an economic advantage; it has also led to environmental concerns. Too many of Indiana’s counties are failing to meet Environmental Protection Agency air quality standards. Counties designated as having non-attainment status by the EPA can be subject to industry restrictions that can hamper economic development.
Government leaders need to encourage the electric companies to improve air pollution prevention technology at existing plants before they add capacity. And power companies and their customers need to find ways to conserve energy and reduce the demand.
Posted by Marcia Oddi on November 15, 2004 12:52 PM
Posted to Environment