March 20 Environmental Issues Forum Focuses On Waste Coal-Fired Power Plants

The Joint Legislative Air and Water Pollution Control and Conservation Committee will host its first Environmental Issues Forum of this year on March 20 to hear a presentation by the Anthracite Region Independent Power Plant Association on waste coal-fired power plants in Pennsylvania.

ARIPPA Executive Director George Ellis will provide an overview of the coal refuse industry, the various benefits these facilities provide, as well as fiscal and regulatory challenges that may threaten the industry’s future if left unaddressed.

Using circulating fluidized bed boiler technology, coal refuse plants are able to generate up 10 percent of the state’s electricity from abandoned coal piles, which are a serious environmental hazard.

To date, over 200 million tons of coal refuse and 7,000 acres of abandoned coal lands have been remediated by this environmentally beneficial industry.

Despite marked improvement, the DEP estimates 300 million tons of coal refuse remain throughout the Commonwealth, and these facilities represent an important part of the comprehensive cleanup strategy.

The hearing will be held in Room 8E-A Capitol Building in Harrisburg starting at noon.

Sen. Scott Hutchinson (R-Venango) serves as Chair of the Joint Conservation Committee.

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