Feature story - July 29, 2004
We went on the road in western Pennsylvania, promoting clean energy with our Rolling Sunlight solar demonstration vehicle. We targeted dirty coal fired power plants, hosted events for our National Hair Sampling Study of Mercury Exposure, and called on George Bush and John Kerry to commit to a plan within the first 100 days in office that will ensure that 20 percent of the nation's energy comes from renewable sources by 2020.
Greenpeace installs three-foot crosses in the Elrama Little League baseball field, just across the fence line from the Elrama power plant, to highlight the deadly impacts of coal-fired power plant emissions on the residents of the Pittsburgh Metropolitan region.
Coal Plant Deaths Memorialized
As part of ongoing work to highlight the deadly impacts of coal-fired power plant emissions and the need to switch to clean energy like wind and solar power, we installed a large seven-foot cross in front of the Keystone Power Plant, as well as a seven-foot blue ribbon, 'awarding' the plant for the being the nation's largest power plant killer.
This action occurred a day after 563 crosses were erected in a little league field across from the Elrama Power Plant, with each cross accounting for one of the 563 people in the Pittsburgh area who die prematurely from power plant pollution every year.
We also placed a cross in front of the Cardinal power plant, owned by American Electric Power, in Brilliant Ohio. Cardinal power plant is responsible for 299 premature deaths, and is the 4th leading killer nation wide.
Mercury Testing Events Hosted
In an effort to raise awareness about human health hazards associated with dirty energy, we are sponsoring a nationwide mercury testing project. Through these tests, volunteers will help pressure the Bush Administration to make the switch from polluting fossil fuels, to healthier, renewable energy.
Recent stops in Philadelphia, Harrisburg and Masontown have raised awareness and brought in hundreds of volunteers.
Find out more about these events and how you can volunteer for the Project.
700-Foot Smokestack Climbed
Greenpeace activists scaled the 700-ft coal plant smokestack at Hatfield's Ferry Power Station to denounce Bush's dirty power plan. A 2,500-square-foot banner reading "THE BUSH ENERGY PLAN KILLS -- CLEAN ENERGY NOW!" was unfurled.
The activists were then charged with multiple state and federal felonies. Federal and state officials eventually dismissed the most serious charges, however some charges remain.
Find out more.