dirty coal

Pushing to retire, or clean up, Wisconsin's old coal-burning units

Even though we have no coal of our own, Wisconsin generates more than 70 percent of its electricity from coal plants, some dating as far back as the 1940s. These plants emit thousands of tons of greenhouse gases, pollute our air with soot and smog, contaminate our water with toxic mercury, and drain our economy. By working to reduce our dependence on dirty coal, Clean Wisconsin is working to secure a cleaner, healthier, more energy-independent future.

	Our priorities to reduce Wisconsin's use of coal includes:
		Victory in the Valley! We Energies' Valley Power Plant is one of the dirtiest coal plants in the state, yet it operates in the heart of downtown Milwaukee. Thanks to the work of Clean Wisconsin and its partner organizations, We Energies has announced it will convert this dirty coal-fired plant to cleaner-burning natural gas.
		Fighting proposals to build new power plants Clean Wisconsin has a long history of fighting coal plants, including its most recent fight against Alliant Energy's proposal to build a coal-fired power plant in Cassville, which the PSC denied in November 2008.
		Pushing EPA to tighten regulations on toxic coal ash Coal ash, a waste byproduct of burning coal, contains over 24 toxins, including some that are deadly even in miniscule quantities. Coal ash currently receives less regulatory oversight than household trash, and Clean Wisconsin is working to push the EPA to strengthen regulations.