Mid-Michigan Cancels Coal Plant

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Mid-Michigan Energy announced the suspension of plans to build a 750-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Midland, Michigan. The decision to drop the proposed plant continues a national trend away from coal due to economic and environmental liabilities.

Mid-Michigan Energy announced the suspension of plans to build a 750-megawatt coal-fired power plant in Midland, Michigan today. The decision to drop the proposed plant continues a national trend away from coal due to economic and environmental liabilities. In the last three years, more than 75 conventional coal plant projects have been canceled.

The Midland Plant was to be financed with backing from New Jersey’s LS Power Group and Dynegy, Inc. Dynegy pulled out of the partnership in January.

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Following are comments from Shannon Fisk, staff attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC):

"The announcement shows what we have said all along: conventional, dirty coal is not economically or environmentally viable in today’s world. It’s too expensive, too polluting, and will stand in the way of the state’s progress toward a renewed economy built up with cutting-edge green jobs."

"This presents a real opportunity for Midland and communities in Mid-Michigan. Nationally, we are moving to a clean energy economy. The plant cancelation offers an opportunity for communities in mid-Michigan to move back into step with the rest of the country rather than being left behind for the next half-century with a reliance on a dirty and antiquated energy source."

"Governor Granholm has rightly set the state on an energy course focused on renewable energy sources and energy efficiency. That is a path that will help to clean Michigan’s skies and create good manufacturing jobs throughout the state. To blame regulatory issues for the cancelation of this plant is to ignore the economic realities and trend against coal across the nation."

For more news and information from NRDC visit:  http://www.nrdc.org.