Midwest and Mercury
Wisconsin has fallen behind other states in the effort to clean the air of mercury, and it's putting the health of the state's tourism industry and residents at risk. More than two dozen organizations presented a petition to the state Department of Natural Resources asking for a rule that would require a 90 percent cut in mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants by 2012.
Most of Wisconsin's inland lakes have advisories, issued by the DNR, limiting the number of fish that should be eaten, to reduce exposure to mercury. Alliant Energy Corp. said utilities are already working on ways to cut not just mercury, but also emissions of sulfur dioxide, linked to acid rain, and nitrogen oxide, which causes smog. Plans are to phase in reductions of those pollutants between 2009 and 2018.
The price of pollution-scrubbing technology has dropped in recent years. The estimated the cost to the average residential electric customer is at $10 a year.
Wisconsin rules require a 75 percent reduction in mercury emissions by 2015, but the DNR is considering changing that to a 70 percent reduction by 2018, to match federal regulations. Illinois has already approved a rule requiring a 90 percent cut in mercury pollution at each power plant by 2012 and Minnesota has a similar plan, to be achieved by 2014.
January 23, 2007 10:14 AM | Category: Chemicals, Cleanup