The Debate Rages in Wisconsin

From WisBusiness.com

The Wisconsin Utilities Association says it will fight proposed new clean air rules from the Department of Natural Resources that DNR believes will result in a 90 percent reduction in mercury emissions from Wisconsin’s coal-fired power plants by 2020.
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Bill Skewes, head of the WUA, said mercury pollution is a worldwide phenomenon and that Wisconsin utilities contribute only 1/40th of 1 percent of the total mercury pollution in the global airstream.

He also said the idea of localized “hot spots” coming from individual power plants has been disputed by scientific studies. And he said Wisconsin utilities need the trading feature as the “best way” to pay to meet state and federal rules.

“We need that economic flexibility,” he said.
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Keith Reopelle, program director for Clean Wisconsin, praised the proposed rules. But he said he is somewhat disappointed that the 90 percent reduction in mercury emissions would not occur until 2020.

He said a similar Illinois regulation takes effect in 2012.“Waiting to 2020 is too long,” he said. “But we are glad they want don’t want to participate in the cap and trade program because we believe mercury emissions from Wisconsin utilities affects Wisconsin lakes and streams.”

It is the same story all over the country, industry (mainly the ultilities) are against tough mercury legislation saying it is too expensive. Environmental regulators striving to protect their constituents as the law requires. Legislators trying to craft legislation to the benefit of citizens and industry alike.

Some very tough battles have been fought over these lines like in Pennsylvania, where PennFuture lead a successful campaign for tough mercury laws. Other States seemed to find common ground without a lot of fighting like Illinois whose new compromise laws were approved yesterday.

All my best material comes from these discussions and I hope that the good folks in Wisconsin can find some common ground on which to agree. You all know my position on cap-and-trade, it is inappropriate when dealing with a toxic material like mercury. The debate about hotspots has recently been proven and local citizens' health should not be bartered or traded on the open market.

The full WisBusiness.com article can be read here.