Coal pollution causes 13,000 premature deaths per year, and 200,000 asthma attacks, nationwide.

This has a lot to with the sulfur dioxide, soot, and carbon monoxide that is produced when coal is burned.  Natural gas produces five to 2,500 times less of these "conventional" air pollutants.

When burning coal, the Capitol Power Plant also emits a suite of highly toxic non-conventional pollutants, including mercury, lead, arsenic, dioxins, formaldehyde and radioactive elements (including radium and uranium). These pollutants are not emitted from the Plant when it burns only natural gas.

Most coal-fired power plants have tall stacks (400-1,000 feet or higher) which send the pollution long distances.  The Plant’s short stacks cause the pollution to drift directly into our neighborhoods.

We’re Campaigning to "Get the Coal Out"

The Architect of the Capitol could easily -- and instantly -- convert the Plant back to “natural gas only” power production.  It could turn to diesel fuel as a backup during emergencies. The choice of coal as a boiler fuel is driven by Members of Congress who represent coal-producing states.

What You Can Do:

Attend the public hearing -- Monday, Dec. 17; 5:30 pm;  1200 First St. NE.  The District Dept. of the Environment is holding a hearing on the Architect’s request for a new, less rigorous, air pollution permit.  See the proposed air quality permit.

Attend our press conference -- Monday, Dec. 17 at 10 am - Half and I Sts. SE.

Join Our Campaign.  Only citizens, working together, can "get the coal out" and thereby win cleaner air for Capitol Hill and Washington.  We, along with Mayor Gray and Councilmember Wells, can win this campaign with sufficient community support.  We need people to appear at hearings, reach out to neighbors, and serve as leaders. Please contact Jim Dougherty (SW DC), jim.dougherty@sierraclub.org, 488-1140, or Irv Sheffey (SE DC), irv.sheffey@sierraclub.org, 575-1469.

Additional resources:

• Defense Logistics Agency's November 30, 2012, Request for Proposals
  The request was for a 20,000 ton supply of coal to the CPP over the six months of the 2013-2014 heating season.

  • Entire DLA RFP package

• Compilation of surveillance photos of the CPP's coal pile
  The photos cover the duration of the 2011-2012 heating season, and the beginning of the 2012-2013 heating season. It shows regular drawdowns and re-supplies during last year's heating season.  The pile appears unchanged during this heating season.
  

• Except from a 2007 District Dept. of the Environment "compliance report."
  It shows that more than 25,000 tons of coal were burned at the CPP during 2007. This represents an average of 266,000 lbs/day during the heating season.

• 2007 emissions data for the largest emitters of air pollution in the District
  This four-page document from the District Dept. of the Environment contains . The CPP is the largest emitter of air pollution in DC.

• Compilation of correspondence
  The letters are about the Architect of the Capitol's 2009 commitment to eliminate the use of coal as a boiler fuel at the CPP.

Contact:
Jim Dougherty, 202-488-1140, jimdoughertyaol.com
irv.sheffey@sierraclub.org, 575-1469