Greenpeace press releases

Greenpeace supports pro-mountain action by Mountain Justice and RAMPS activists

mdorozen — Thu, 24 May 2012 17:09:00 +0200

In response to today’s action taken by activists from Mountain Justice and RAMPS, Greenpeace Coal Campaign Director Gabe Wisniewski issued the following statement:

“We strongly support the brave action taken today by the Mountain Justice and RAMPS activists who have locked down to a coal barge and stopped truck shipments at the Republic Energy mine in West Virginia. For mountain communities that are at risk of losing their homes, radical action may be the only way to stop the destructive practice of mountaintop removal threatening their health and survival. We stand behind these communities and are renewed and inspired by their commitment and today’s heroic actions.

"The environmental and health risks of mountaintop removal are too serious to be ignored any longer. Companies like Republic Energy must stop this dangerous practice, and utilities like Duke Energy should stop buying mountaintop removal coal.”

100 labor, health, environmental groups urge Obama to prevent chemical disasters

Joe Smyth — Thu, 17 May 2012 16:49:00 +0200

Washington DC - May 17, 2012 - A blue-green coalition of more than 100 labor, environmental, public health, and environmental justice organizations urged President Obama to take executive action to protect Americans from the risks posed by dangerous chemical facilities in a letter sent to the White House yesterday. The coalition includes unions such as the AFL-CIO, AFSCME, Steelworkers, SEIU, UAW, and the Teamsters, national environmental organizations such as NRDC, Friends of the Earth, EDF, and the League of Conservation Voters, as well as state and local organizations representing communities most at risk of a poison gas disaster, such as Texas Environmental Justice Advocacy Services, Advocates for Environmental Human Rights, and WE ACT for Environmental Justice.

The letter begins: "Given the continuing gridlock in Congress, we are writing to urge you to take executive action to ensure that high-risk chemical facilities fulfill their obligation under the Clean Air Act to prevent the catastrophic release of extremely hazardous chemicals. According to chemical facility reports to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), more than 480 chemical facilities each put 100,000 or more people at risk of a poison gas disaster."

President Obama and EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson have been urged to use the Clean Air Act to require safer processes at dangerous chemical plants by a chorus of voices in recent months. Most notably, former Bush EPA Administrator Christine Todd Whitman urged action in an April 3 letter to Ms. Jackson, noting that under her tenure, "shortly after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the EPA seriously considered using section 112 (r) to extend the Agency’s existing responsibility for the prevention of accidental releases to include releases caused deliberately." Also, a May 4 New York Times editorial, "The Risk From Chemical Plants" concluded, "Ms. Jackson should use her authority under the Clean Air Act. Given the fierce resistance to any sensible regulation by the current group of Congressional Republicans, it may be the only way to address an all too clear and present danger." A March 14 letter from the National Environmental Justice Advisory Council (NEJAC) noted that gaps in the current chemical plant rules "are particularly threatening to low-income and tribal communities and communities of color because they frequently reside near waste water treatment plants, refineries, and port facilities" that are exempt from the Department of Homeland Security's Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS).

“President Obama has sent clear signals that he will pursue initiatives that he can move forward within existing laws and without the need to wrestle with Congress.” said Greenpeace Executive Director Phil Radford, “Now is the time for the president to take action to protect communities from the threat of chemical disasters.”

The coalition letter also notes President Obama's 2008 campaign pledge to, "Secure our chemical plants by setting a clear set of federal regulations that all plants must follow, including improving barriers, containment, mitigation and safety training, and wherever possible, using safer technology, such as less toxic chemicals."

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The coalition letter to President Obama is at: https://www.documentcloud.org/documents/357316-coalition-letter-obama-chemical-disaster.html

CONTACT: Joe Smyth, Greenpeace Media, 831-566-5647, joe.smyth@greenpeace.org

Activistas utilizan un ipod gigante en la sede central de Apple para protestar una nube alimentado con carbon

kmacduff — Tue, 15 May 2012 15:28:00 +0200

Cupertino, CA—Activistas de Greenpeace se encadenaron dentro de un ‘iPod’ de grandes dimensiones en frente del sede de Apple desde donde transmitieron mensajes de voz. Los mensajes, procedentes de gente de todo el mundo, piden que la compañía utilice energía limpia y renovable para alimentar sus centros de datos y su nube (iCloud en inglés), en lugar de fuentes de energía que provienen de la quema de carbón.

Desde los altavoces de un iPod adaptado a partir del dispositivo de 8 pies de altura por 10 de ancho utilizado anteriormente en una protesta para evitar la perforación del Ártico, se transmitieron mensajes de simpatizantes de la campaña 'Limpien nuestra nube’ de todas partes del mundo a empleados y ejecutivos en el famoso campus de Cupertino.

“Los ejecutivos de Apple han ignorado hasta el momento a los cientos de miles de personas que exigen que la empresa use su influencia para crear una nube que funcione con energía limpia,” dijo Phil Radford, Director Ejecutivo de Greenpeace en EEUU “Como clientes de Apple, adoramos nuestros iPhones y iPads, pero no queremos usar una nube alimentada por una fuente de energía tan dañina y tóxica como el carbón.

Mientras el ipod transmitia los mensajes de voz de los simpatizantes, cuatro activistas vestidos de iPhones con pantallas de televisión en sus torsos exponían mensajes de colaboradores en Twitter y Facebook a los empleados que entraban a trabajar. La noche anterior, activistas proyectaron tweets, fotos y mensajes de colaboradores de “Limpia nuestra nube” en varias idiomas en la fachada de la -sede.

Desde que Greenpeace Internacional lanzó su campaña el mes pasado, más de 220,000 personas han firmado la petición pidiendo a Apple que use una fuente de energía limpia para alimentar su iCloud.

El reciente informe de Greenpeace Internacional “¿Es tu nube limpia?” evalúa 14 empresas globales del sector de las tecnologías de la información (IT en inglés) en función de los criterios básicos para crear una nube limpia, incluyendo las cadenas de suministro eléctrico de más de 80 centros de datos (2). El informe revela que Google y Yahoo siguen demostrando su compromiso con la energía limpia y renovable, mientras Apple, Amazon y Microsoft continúan usando fuentes de energía sucias para hacer funcionar sus respectivas nubes como el carbón y la energía nuclear.

Recientemente, Apple llevado a cabo una inversión en energías renovables con el objeto de suministrar parte de la electricidad necesaria en su centro de datos de Carolina del Norte, sin embargo a medida que el centro de datos crezca y sus necesidades sobrepasen el suministro actual, una mayor cantidad de electricidad vendrá de la quema de carbón en plantas térmicas pertenecientes a la empresa Duke Energy. (3)

“Para una compañía conocida por su innovación, Apple está quedando rezagada con respecto a otras empresas del sector como Facebook, Google y Yahoo, quienes ya han tomado medidas y adoptado políticas que facilitan que sus nubes sean alimentadas por energías limpias y renovables,” afirma Casey Harrell, analista de Greenpeace Internacional.

Contact:

Keiller MacDuff, Washington DC, 202 679 2236

Para seguir la acción, siga #cleancloud en Twitter, y visita http://www.facebook.com/CleanOurCloud en Facebook

Notas:

http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/publications/Campaign-reports/Climate-Reports/How-Clean-is-Your-Cloud/

http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/news/Blogs/makingwaves/apple-come-clean-about-your-coal-problem-then/blog/40221/

The BP Disaster Photos Big Oil and the White House Don’t Want You to See

nsands — Mon, 07 May 2012 16:50:00 +0200

WASHINGTON, DC - Greenpeace today released shocking photos that show graphic evidence of the destruction done to endangered sea life in the Gulf by the 2010 BP oil disaster. The photos, just received via a Freedom of Information request filed in August 2010, appear to be part of the effort to collect evidence for the prosecution of BP and others, but have never been published by the government.

The images--oil-covered sea turtles, sperm whales, and dolphins--call into question claims made by BP and the White House about the damage done to endangered and threatened Gulf species.

“These images of dead sea turtles, completely covered in oil, present a very different picture than what we were told by US officials,” said John Hocevar, a marine biologist with Greenpeace. “While the White House was trying to keep the emphasis on rosy stories of rescued animals being released back into the wild, they were sitting on these images of garbage bags full of Kemp’s Ridley sea turtles.”

On Friday, BP won a delay for the civil trial that would assign damages from the disaster, the worst marine oil spill in US history, and further US legal actions to apportion accountability for the disaster have yet to get fully underway. The money from these decisions will largely go to help clean-up and restoration efforts for these critically endangered habitats, which makes their delay all the more troubling to environmental groups.

“We remain concerned about what else BP and the government scientists saw, what else they documented but never showed the public,” Kert Davies, Greenpeace Research Director said. ”These photos are a grim reminder of the real damage that reckless oil corporations cause and also remind us never to stop pushing for transparency and accountability from Big Oil and the government that supposedly regulates its activities.”

Greenpeace sent a letter to prosecutors at the Department of Justice and Attorney General Eric Holder, copied to the chairs of the Congressional Judiciary Committees, ensuring that they see these images and requesting that the Justice Department follow up in order to hold those responsible accountable for the disaster.

The letter states, in part: “We’re writing today to state clearly our conviction that any resolution of the [BP] disaster short of full criminal prosecution of all responsible parties will be a dereliction of duty by your department and a betrayal of the trust placed in this administration by American citizens.”

Greenpeace submitted over 50 different FOIA requests to various State and Federal agencies starting in May 2010. We continue to receive documents from those requests which are published on Greenpeace’s PolluterWatch on an ongoing basis

This is the original FOIA request that produced these photographs.

We published 300 new government aerial photographs received via FOIA two weeks ago.

To preview the photos, set up an interview with Kert Davies or John Hocevar, please contact Travis Nichols, 206 802 8498, tnichols@greenpeace.org.

Activists Block Duke Coal Shipment, link Mountaintop Removal to iCloud

mdorozen — Thu, 03 May 2012 18:21:00 +0200

CHARLOTTE, NC—This morning, activists from Greenpeace, Mountain Justice, RAMPS (Radical Action for Mountain People’s Survival), Katuah Earth First! and Keepers of the Mountains Foundation blocked a coal train en route to the Marshall Steam Station, a Duke Energy coal-fired power plant, and branded the cars with the iconic Apple logo.

Four activists, including leaders from the anti-mountaintop removal movement, locked themselves to the rail tracks preventing the train from passing. Other activists branded the train with Apple’s logo to show that Apple’s growing iCloud will be powered by more coal as its Maiden, NC, datacenter expands.

“Duke is using datacenter expansion in North Carolina, like Apple’s, to justify reinvesting in old coal-fired power plants and even worse, as an excuse to build new coal and nuclear plants. But if Apple demands renewable energy from Duke Energy to power its iCloud it could help transform both the IT sector’s and North Carolina’s energy economy,” said Gabe Wisnieweski, Greenpeace USA Coal Campaign Director. “Unfortunately, today Apple’s iCloud uses whatever power Duke offers, and this dirty mix currently includes electricity from burning mountaintop removal coal. The climate and communities throughout Appalachia and North Carolina are paying the price for Apple and Duke's short-sighted decisions.”

The Marshall plant burns coal from mountaintop removal, a destructive practice whereby the tops of mountains are blown off to retrieve coal with the debris scraped into adjacent valleys. Air pollution from the Marshall plant causes more than one hundred deaths a year and thousands of asthma attacks. The Marshall Plant is part of the Duke Energy fleet which powers Apple’s iCloud data center in Maiden, North Carolina (1).

Greenpeace’s recent report, “How Clean is Your Cloud?” evaluated fourteen IT companies based on key elements needed to build a clean cloud, including the electricity supply chain of over 80 datacenters (2). The report found that Google and Yahoo are showing commitment to clean energy while Apple, Amazon and Microsoft rely on outdated coal and nuclear energy to deliver their clouds.

Apple has made a limited investment in renewable energy to provide a part of the current power for its data center in North Carolina, but as the facility expands and outgrows this supply, more and more electricity will be provided by Duke’s coal-fired power plants. Apple has sought to downplay the amount of electricity it will buy from Duke by saying that its intended capacity for the Maiden data center is only 20 megawatts (MW). However, today Greenpeace uncovered new information that shows that Apple applied for and was granted permits for backup diesel generators that indicate Apple is equipped for a current power demand of 41 MW of electricity for Phase 1 of its Maiden data center. (3)

“Apple should be more transparent about its coal problem, and take steps to start solving it, as other tech companies have,” said Casey Harrell, Greenpeace International IT analyst.“ Apple should follow the lead of its Silicon Valley and North Carolina neighbor, Facebook, which has committed to set a policy to build future data centers in locations that have access to renewable energy and to lobby the utilities that provide it power, such as Duke, for more access to renewable energy.” (4)

“Corporations must understand that the use and demand for coal from bombing mountains in Appalachia is not only destroying one of the oldest most bio-diverse mountain ranges in the United States, but it is also – by releasing carcinogenic heavy metals into our streams – killing Appalachians, and contributing to the sickness and death of countless others outside the area who depend on these headwaters for their water source,” said activist Mickey McCoy, whose community in Kentucky has suffered the ravages of mountaintop removal.

1.    The Toll from Coal: An Updated Assessment of Death and Disease from America's Dirtiest Energy Source http://www.catf.us/resources/publications/view/138
2.    http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/publications/Campaign-reports/Climate-Reports/How-Clean-is-Your-Cloud/
3.    http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/news/Blogs/makingwaves/apple-come-clean-about-your-coal-problem-then/blog/40221/
4.    http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/news/features/Victory-Facebook-friends-renewable-energy/

Cincinnati drops Duke, moves to 100% renewable energy credits

kmacduff — Thu, 26 Apr 2012 16:08:00 +0200

Cincinnati, OH - Greenpeace is welcoming the announcement by City Manager, Milton Dohoney Jr. today that Cincinnati is dumping Duke Energy’s dirty coal power for First Energy Solutions (FES), who will provide power for the city with 100% renewable energy credits (RECs). Still, there are significant flaws in the plan, and Cincinnati has a long way to go before it becomes a truly green city.

“Today’s news out of Mr. Dohoney’s office is encouraging for all citizens of Cincinnati who voted for aggregation and 100 % renewable energy,” said Greenpeace Cincinnati Organizer, Kate Melges. “The citizens of Cincinnati gave the city a clear mandate and Council responded with resounding approval of the people’s demands, unanimously passing a motion asking bidders to include a 100% renewable energy credit option.

“Unfortunately, FES is predominantly relying on co-generation to provide its renewable energy credits. Unlike wind turbines and solar photovoltaics, RECs are merely a claim to renewable energy generated elsewhere and do not guarantee the city will be powered by any local renewable energy. Despite Ohio’s abundant wind and solar resources, the new plan does not mean the city will truly be powered with renewable energy. Greenpeace wants to see FES deploying true renewable energy solutions like wind and solar power throughout Cincinnati.

“Even worse, Duke Energy still operates three coal plants in and around Cincinnati. Though a step in the right direction, the bid announced today has no effect on these dirty coal plants. These Duke Energy plants will now be selling electricity to other cities, sending the profit back to HQ in Charlotte and leaving Cincinnatians with the pollution. That’s not a fair deal for the residents of Cincinnati.

“While Cincinnati had the opportunity to lead the nation in the development and deployment of clean, renewable electricity, it has taken only initial steps towards creating a 100 % clean, green Queen city,” said Ms Melges.

“The challenge now is for FES to deploy true renewable energy throughout Cincinnati,” said Ms Melges.

“The people of Cincinnati will not give up on 100% renewable energy, we have come too far and have fought very hard to make this a reality,” said UC student and life long Cincinnatian, Mackenzie Griesser.

Response to Duke Energy's 'Sustainability' Report

kmacduff — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 18:31:00 +0200

“Duke Energy’s 2012 sustainability report paints the farcical picture of a coal company claiming to be sustainable. Duke has already pinned its colors firmly to the mast by investing heavily – more than $5 billion – in new coal fired power plants in Indiana and North Carolina when they could have invested those funds in truly sustainable resources,” says Greenpeace Coal Campaigner Robert Gardner.

“Noticeably absent from this report is any discussion of the millions of tons of coal Duke burns from mountaintop removal, the safety and public financing implications to more nuclear electricity, or the intense lobbying efforts against environmental safeguards that Duke carries out.”

“Duke Energy is accountable not just to their shareholders, but to the millions that are affected by their operations every day. The way to be “well positioned” in a carbon constrained world is to end investment in fossil fuels and deploy renewable energy solutions. Only then can Duke properly call themselves a sustainable organization,” said Mr Gardner.

Duke Day of Action echoes across North Carolina

kmacduff — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 18:02:00 +0200

Rallies have taken place in Charlotte and Raleigh today, as people across the state voice their opposition to Duke Energy’s dirty rate hikes. Over 30 smaller events took place in cities around North Carolina. The protests come just days after Attorney General Roy Cooper announced his decision to appeal Duke’s 7 % rate rise.

More than 50 people attended a rally outside Duke Headquarters in Charlotte to hear speakers from a wide range of groups, including Greenpeace, Occupy Charlotte and Clean Air Carolina. Others gathered with placards outside Progress Energy Headquarters in Raleigh to express their disapproval of the proposed merger between Duke and Progress. Should the merger go ahead, Duke Energy would become the largest utility in the country.

“Duke Energy is profiting from pollution, hitting people while they are down with a dirty rate hike,” says Greenpeace North Carolina organizer Monica Embrey. “Duke has the opportunity to be a leader in the 21^st century energy economy, but instead it is dragging itself and the state backwards with new investments in coal and nuclear power.”

“People across North Carolina have taken part in today’s Day of Action because they want Duke Energy to make real investments in renewable energy, right here in North Carolina. It’s time for Duke to match its rhetoric with reality,” Ms Embrey says.

Rally calls for end to rate hikes, backs AG’s appeal

kmacduff — Sat, 31 Mar 2012 17:59:00 +0200

Charlotte, North Carolina: A well attended rally held in Charlotte today has called for Duke Energy to drop its dirty rate hike. Dozens of concerned community members joined leaders from environmental and social justice groups to demand Duke end unfair rate increases to fund dirty coal. The rally comes days after Attorney General Roy Cooper announced his decision to appeal the 7% rate hike because of the economic hardship the increase will pose.

“Duke Energy needs to start being a good neighbor to North Carolinians, instead of investing in dirty and dangerous coal and dumping the bill on ratepayers who can ill afford it. North Carolina could be a leader in clean energy if Duke just put its money where its mouth is and started investing in clean, renewable energy,” said North Carolina Greenpeace organizer Monica Embrey.

The rally, which took place at Duke Energy Headquarters, called on Duke Energy to stop profiting from pollution. It was hosted by environmental, economic and social justice groups such as Clean Air Carolina, Action NC, Greenpeace USA, NAACP Charlotte Chapter, and Occupy Charlotte. Greenpeace delivered a petition with over 4000 signatures demanding Duke cut the greenwash and start investing in renewables here in North Carolina.

Hector Vaca, Charlotte Director of Action NC said "In this economy, with so many out of work and underemployed, poor people can't afford to keep paying more and more on our utility bills. Many are already having to choose between paying electricity bills and medical bills."

“Duke Energy’s continued investment in burning coal contributes to our region’s poor air quality and makes people sick. To add insult to injury, consumers are being asked to pay more for this for this type of dirty energy. We need Duke to invest now in clean, renewable energy that doesn’t harm our health,” said June Blotnick, Director of Clean Air Carolina.

”Duke Energy is blithely charging the people of North Carolina higher and higher rates in an ever increasing effort to return more profit to its shareholders. Meanwhile, Duke is locking us into a dirty and dangerous future, by investing billions in new coal and nuclear,” said Craig Glisson, Member of Occupy Charlotte

“It is obscene that Duke Energy continues to rack up energy prices in this economy, especially when it is all but showering its CEO and shareholders with gold,” Rev Kojo Nantambu, Charlotte Chair of NAACP said. “This company is failing to be a good corporate citizen.”

“In 2010, Duke was among 37 major corporations that paid zero tax, yet it makes healthy profits, a guaranteed return to shareholders – at public expense – and over eight million dollars for its CEO. Duke Energy is a company that can in no way be described as a good neighbor to Charlotte: it is an embarrassment,” said Charlotte Green Party spokesman Ken Davies.

Greenpeace wants to see Duke Energy stop destroying mountains in its bid for more dirty energy, stop investing in dirty coal plants and start investing in real renewables right here in North Carolina. “North Carolinians shouldn’t have to pay for rate increases that pollute our air, water and health, cause climate change and destroy mountains.” Ms Embrey said.

Alaska judge imposes sweeping injunction against Greenpeace over Arctic drilling

jturner — Fri, 30 Mar 2012 23:19:00 +0200

Court sides with Shell Oil over peaceful protest group despite clear legal argument

March 29th, 2012

A federal judge in Alaska has granted a preliminary injunction against Greenpeace USA which will remain in place until October 31st 2012, the end of Shell Oil’s ‘drilling window’ in Alaska. The injunction follows a temporary restraining order which expired on March 28th.

The injunction was granted despite clear evidence that a ‘direct action’ against one of Shell’s rigs in New Zealand was carried out by an entirely separate legal entity, Greenpeace New Zealand. Greenpeace USA is now banned from entering a 1 km ‘safety zone’ around Shell’s two main drilling vessels.

A 500 meter safety zone (1000 m. during towing) is also in place for support vessels and other equipment. These safety zones will be reduced to 100 meters for vessels transiting through narrow channels.

The restrictions apply to Shell’s vessels while they are in US territorial waters (up to 12 miles from shore). The judge is still considering extending this to include the Economic Exclusion Zone (EEZ) 200 miles offshore.

Reacting to the news, Greenpeace Deputy Campaign Director Dan Howells said:

“When an oil company with billions of dollars employs an army of lawyers to undermine your right to peaceful protest and free speech, then you know you’re doing something right. Since Greenpeace New Zealand launched this campaign over 300,000 people have written to Shell telling them that Arctic drilling is one of the great mistakes of our age, and the company has resorted to legal bullying because they’re scared of public opinion.”

“Greenpeace is just one part of a growing movement which will continue to oppose Arctic drilling peacefully and vigorously this year and in the future. This desperate drilling program will do nothing to bring down gas prices in the US, but everything to endanger America’s last true wilderness and play havoc with our climate. It’s time we start protecting the best interests of the 99% instead of a handful of corporate executives pursuing the next billion dollars in profit.”

In support of its complaint, Shell referred to an activity over 6,000 miles from Alaska in which activists from Greenpeace New Zealand joined the actor Lucy Lawless to stop a Shell drillship from leaving for the Arctic.

The injunction ‘enjoins’, or bans, Greenpeace or anyone acting ‘in concert’ from a number of activities. Breaching the order could result in fines and jail time on top of the possible penalties that already exist for these offenses.

These activities include:

Breaking into or trespassing on the vessels

Tortiously or illegally interfering with the operation, movement or progress of the vessels

Barricading, blocking or preventing access to or egress from the vessels

Tortiously or illegally endangering or threatening any employee, contractor or visitor of Shell or any of its affiliates who is present on, or as they enter or exit the vessels.

For more information or a copy of the injunction please contact Greenpeace on 415 812 1142.

ENDS

Greenpeace supports Attorney General's appeal of Duke's dirty rate hike

kmacduff — Thu, 29 Mar 2012 12:51:00 +0200

Greenpeace applauds Attorney General Roy Cooper's decision to appeal Duke Energy's 7% rate hike, not only because of the serious economic hardship Duke is dumping on ratepayers, but also because of the severe environmental damage Duke continues to wreck with it's addiction to dirty fossil fuels.

"It comes as little surprise the AG's office has found significant discrepancies between Duke's findings of fact and the sworn testimonies of their witnesses. Time and time again Duke Energy has saddled North Carolinians with the burden of their shortsighted business plans. This rate hike is taxing families in North Carolina to underwrite the increasing cost of coal while Duke continues to skirt investment in renewables," says North Carolina representative Monica Embrey.

"Duke Energy needs to get serious about moving its investment away from dirty coal and nuclear power and towards a renewable energy future -- only then will they be the leaders we know they can be. Until then, we invite ratepayers across the state to join the AG and Greenpeace in fighting dirty rate hikes. And we call on Duke to provide greater transparency in its planning and more ambition in scaling renewable energy solutions which are the only way to provide reliable, low-cost and healthy electricity for all of the people of North Carolina," Ms Embrey says.

Greenpeace wants to see Duke Energy: 1) Stop buying mountain top removal coal; 2) provide 1/3rd of its energy from renewables by 2020; and 3) eliminate coal entirely by 2030. North Carolina deserves a 21st century energy economy, not a 20th century monopoly.

New greenhouse gas rules riddled with loopholes

kmacduff — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 18:58:00 +0200

The new greenhouse gas rules issued by the Environmental Protection Agency today are welcome, but disappointing, says Greenpeace USA.

“Today, the EPA issued an historic limit on carbon pollution from new power plants. Administrator Lisa Jackson and Gina McCarthy are climate heroes for moving forward despite a begrudging White House and a Congress mired by a radical right wing in love with coal and oil,” says Greenpeace Climate Campaigner Kyle Ash.

The decision comes as members of the Utility Air Regulatory Group (UARG) - including Duke Energy, Dominion Energy, and Southern Company - fight tooth and nail against basic environmental protections and the basic idea that climate pollution endangers Americans. “The UARG does not care about communities who will lose their homes from rising sea levels, more frequent wildfires, and freak storms – all caused by climate disruption.”

“Unfortunately, this standard is riddled with weaknesses, like exemptions for biomass and carbon capture and storage, and it does nothing to drive down current climate pollution,” Mr Ash says.

Three huge loopholes seriously undermine this pollution standard. First, the EPA has again exempted pollution from burning biomass. Biomass can have higher climate emissions than coal, while the resilience of American forests is doubly compromised by rising temperatures. Second, the EPA has offered a one year free-for-all so industry can scramble to get coal plants approved and avoid any limits. Third, the EPA allows new coal plants to pollute freely for ten years as long as they integrate carbon capture and storage technology (CCS) and lower emissions enough to bring their annual average pollution down to the limit after 30 years. The EPA, in effect, has defined an exemption based on unproven technology that even in theory would sequester carbon while exacerbating other catastrophic coal issues – such as mountaintop removal and generating millions of tons of toxic coal ash.

In 2007 the Supreme Court required the EPA develop climate pollution standards, a decision industry polluters continue to fight. Although this standard is anti-climactic since it only limits emissions from power plants not yet built, old coal continues to fight a market that has clearly realized coal power is dirty, old, and expensive.

While the new rule may help keep new giant sources of emissions from coming online, the Obama administration has yet to require limits on carbon pollution from existing stationary sources. “The President should stand by Administrator Jackson and her team as they push corporate polluters to reduce the CO2 spewing from smokestacks today,” Mr Ash says.

For further information, contact: Keiller MacDuff 202 679 2236

Partisan Nit-Picking Ignores Disaster Risks Due to Security Gaps and Exemptions for Thousands of Chemical Facilities

Joe Smyth — Tue, 06 Mar 2012 18:47:00 +0100

Washington, DC – March 6, 2012 - Greenpeace ridiculed Republican hearings about the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) as “partisan nit-picking” as Greenpeace legislative director Rick Hind said, “Only in Washington, can you hear people say, ‘this program isn’t working,’ so let’s extend it until 2018.” Following a Fox News report on an internal DHS memo, House Republicans are holding another hearing March 6th on the DHS’s Chemical Facilities Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS).

“Instead of fixing a fatally flawed law written by Republicans and industry lobbyists in 2006, congressional Republicans are engaging in partisan nit-picking about predictable failures in CFATS that the DHS first identified,” said Hind. Meanwhile, according to EPA data more than 110 million Americans remain at risk from high risk chemical plants. “These hearings are a dangerous distraction from DHS’s prudent legislative proposals which would strengthen CFATS to provide real protection for millions of people living down wind of high risk chemical plants,” said Hind.

Since 2009 the DHS has asked Congress for authority to eliminate catastrophic chemical plant hazards and close major security gaps in CFATS that exempt thousands of chemical facilities (see examples below).

In 2006 Congress passed a temporary 744 word “rider” to the Homeland Security Appropriations Act to allow Congress more time to enact a comprehensive program. In 2009 the House passed a comprehensive bill (H.R. 2868) but it was blocked in the Senate. Ironically, in 2009, Dow Chemical also proposed legislative language to conditionally require high risk plants to use safer cost-effective processes. The current House Republican bills (H.R. 901 & H.R. 908) would lock in all security gaps and loopholes in CFATS for another 7 years.

Instead of waiting for Congress to act, more than 100 organizations are urging President Obama to use his authority under the Clean Air Act to reduce these risks. This was proposed by the Bush EPA in 2002 but it was never implemented. “We can no longer afford to wait for Congress to act responsibly,” concluded Hind.

Like CFATS H.R. 901 and H.R. 908 would:

Actually bar the DHS from requiring any “particular security measure” including safer chemical processes and therefore fails to reduce the consequences of an attack at any of the 4,422 “high risk” chemical facilities now in the program. It handcuffs the DHS from requiring what Senator Lieberman (I-CT) calls “the only foolproof way to defeat a terrorist determined to strike a chemical facility.”

Exempt the majority of the 12,361 chemical facilities in the EPA’s chemical disaster program. According to a Congressional Research Service analysis of EPA data, 6,851 of these chemical facilities put 1,000 or more people in surrounding communities at risk of a catastrophic release of a ultra-hazardous chemical.

Fail to protect people living and working near 2,400 U.S. drinking water & waste treatment plants and approximately 500 chemical facilities located on navigable waterways, including a majority of the U.S.’s 150 refineries. – All chemical facilities regulated by the Safe Drinking Water Act, Federal Water Pollution Control Act, the Maritime Transportation Security Act, the Nuclear Regulatory Commission are exempt from CFATS, which includes the highest risk plants in the U.S.

Fail to provide funding to convert publicly owned water treatment systems or private chemical facilities to safer chemical processes The House passed bill (H.R. 2868) in 2009 provided assistance to offset conversion costs. An independent analysis concluded that H.R. 2868 would have created 8,000 new jobs. The two sectors that would most benefit were publicly owned water systems and the chemical industry sector: http://www.misi-net.com/publications.html

Fail to require meaningful involvement of plant employees in developing vulnerability assessments and security plans or protect against background check abuses. Employees are the eyes and ears of a plant and their first line of defense.

Fail to include whistleblower protections and citizen suits to enhance enforcement and implementation of the law. DHS rules ignore the long history of whistleblowers who have exposed waste, fraud and abuse. Citizens should also be able to ensure that government agencies implement the law as Congress intended. In this case these provisions could also save thousands of lives.
Legislation introduced on March 31, 2011 by Senator Lautenberg (D-NJ) (S. 709 & S.711) would address these flaws in CFATS.

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Contact: Joe Smyth, Greenpeace Media, 831-566-5647, joe.smyth@greenpeace.org

MAPLE Applauds GenOn’s Decision to Shut Down the Portland Generating Station

kmacduff — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 22:04:00 +0100

Upper Mt. Bethel, PA – This morning the Multi-State Alliance to Promote Lasting Energy (MAPLE) welcomed the announcement that, after decades of spewing air and water pollution, GenOn will be shutting down the Portland Generating Station in Upper Mt. Bethel, Pennsylvania in January, 2015. The Portland Plant is one of the oldest and dirties coal plants in the country and has been causing health and environmental problems throughout the Lehigh Valley and Northwest New Jersey for over 50 years. In 2009 alone it emitted 2,396,431 tons of carbon dioxide as well as 30,701 tons of sulfur dioxide and 3,496 tons of nitrous oxide. GenOn will also be closing the New Castle, Shawville, and Titus plants in Pennsylvania.

Today’s announcement is a long awaited relief to local residents in Pennsylvania and New Jersey after over a decade of social and legal action against the plant.

Dave McNulty, a Warren County resident said, “having a child with asthma has shown me the importance of clean, breathable air. I’m happy to know that our air will be cleaner and healthier once this plant finally shuts down.”

Along with the air pollution GenOn currently dumps thousands of tons of toxic coal ash into an improperly lined and under monitored slate quarry in Bangor, PA.

“I have lived close to the Portland Plant’s coal ash dump in Bangor for years and I am so relieved to know that they will no longer be dumping their toxic waste in my community. This has been a long time coming. Now I just want to know that they will clean up the coal ash mess that will be left after the plant is closed.” said Anna Maria Caldera, a Bangor resident for over 10 years.

GenOn’s decision comes after an EPA ruling on October 31, 2011 that forced them to reduce the plant’s sulfur dioxide emissions by 81% in 3 years. The ruling was in response to a 2010 lawsuit by the state of New Jersey after research showed that the plant’s air pollution that blows over state lines is causing serious air quality problems to Warren and Sussex counties.

“GenOn has finally made the right decision for Pennsylvania and New Jersey. It’s time that energy companies start realizing that coal is an outdated technology. Now we just want to make sure that GenOn takes appropriate action to clean up their polluting coal ash dump in Bangor, PA” said Greenpeace Field Organizer Myriam Fallon.

“Above all, this is a win for public health and for families who have been breathing polluted air from these outdated plants,” said Bruce Nilles, Senior Director of the Sierra Club’s Beyond Coal campaign. “GenOn has recognized that operating outdated, dirty coal plants just doesn’t make economic sense anymore, especially in a time when constructing a wind farm is now cheaper than building a new coal plant. What matters now is ensuring that GenOn does the right thing and transitions these workers into the growing clean energy sector.”

MAPLE includes The Sierra Club, Clean Air Council, Greenpeace, Delaware Riverkeeper Network, Genesis Farms, The Alliance for Sustainable Communities – Lehigh Valley, New Jersey Highlands Coalition, and Save the Park.

Undercover investigation exposes Asia Pulp & Paper’s illegal rainforest scandal

nsands — Thu, 01 Mar 2012 21:48:00 +0100

March 1st 2012 -- A year long Greenpeace investigation into the world’s third largest pulp and paper producer, Asia Pulp & Paper (APP), has found that the company is systematically violating Indonesia’s laws protecting ramin, an internationally protected tree species ( 1).

The new evidence can be seen here.

Throughout 2011, many visits were made to APP’s Indah Kiat Perawang mill, Indonesia’s largest pulp mill, where numerous ramin logs were identified, mixed in with other rainforest species waiting to be pulped. Samples were taken from 46 of these logs and were confirmed to be ramin by internationally recognised Institute of Wood Technology and Wood Biology, vTI, University of Hamburg, Germany.

“Greenpeace has caught Asia Pulp and Paper red-handed – this investigation shows its main pulp mill is regularly riddled with illegal ramin. This makes a mockery of their public claim to have ‘zero tolerance’ for illegal timber,” said Bustar Maitar, Head of the Forests Campaign for Greenpeace Indonesia.

Greenpeace mapping analysis shows that since the logging of ram in was banned in 2001, at least 180,000 hectares of Sumatran peat swamp forests have been cleared in concessions now controlled by APP – an area more than twice the size of New York City.

These forests are a critical habitat for ramin, as well as endangered species including the Sumatran tiger with only 400 remaining in the wild.

As part of the investigation, major companies have been implicated in APP’s international rainforest scandal. Independent testing and supply chain research into paper products from companies including Xerox, National Geographic and Danone show that they contain Indonesian rainforest fibre. These products were manufactured using paper from by APP mills supplied from by Indah Kiat Perawang, the same mill implicated in APP’s illegal ramin scandal.

Maitar continued: “APP is undermining the rule of law in Indonesia. Greenpeace is calling on the Government to immediately seize all illegal ramin in APP’s operations in Indonesia. The evidence has been provided to authorities to assist in their efforts to improve governance in the forest sector. Any company buying from APP should distance themselves from this illegal rainforest scandal and stop buying from them until they clean up their act.”

Greenpeace supports a ban on further clearance of peat swamp forests, as proposed in an official report on ramin protection by the Indonesian government department that is responsible for protecting ramin. APP’s sister company, the palm oil company GAR, is already implementing a policy to end deforestation, including ending peat swamp forest clearance.

The evidence that has been compiled by Greenpeace has been handed to the Ministry of Forestry and will also be passed to the police in Indonesia.

Notes to Editors

(1) Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild
Fauna and Flora CITES
http://www.cites.org/

Companies including Kraft, Nestle, Adidas, Staples and Mattel have
already suspended all purchases from APP and are implementing policies
to avoid deforestation in their supply chains.

The Summary Report and the independent scientific results from tests
on ramin logs: www.greenpeace.org/international/raminsummary

Full findings and Video footage of the investigation can be found here
www.greenpeace.org/ramintrail

Midwest Generation Agrees to Shut Down Fisk and Crawford Coal Plants

nsands — Wed, 29 Feb 2012 14:52:00 +0100

Note: The Chicago Clean Power Coalition will hold a press conference in Dvorak Park at 11:00AM on Thursday to celebrate this historic win. Speakers from community, health, and environmental organizations will be available.

CHICAGO - Midwest Generation, a subsidiary of Edison International, will retire its Fisk and Crawford coal plants, two of the oldest and dirtiest coal-fired power plants in the nation. This agreement marks an historic victory for a decade-long grassroots campaign to protect Chicago residents from the harmful impacts of coal pollution. According to agreements signed by Midwest Generation, the Clean Power Coalition, and the City of Chicago, the Fisk coal plant in Pilsen will shut down in 2012 and the Crawford coal plant in Little Village will shut down by 2014.

“Today’s victory demonstrates that people shouldn’t have to tolerate toxic polluters in their backyard,” said Rosalie Mancera of Pilsen Alliance. “By working with our neighbors and elected officials, Chicagoans have finally won the right to breathe clean air.”

For over ten years, thousands of Chicago residents have called on government officials and Midwest Generation to shut down the Fisk and Crawford plants. Community organizations in Pilsen and Little Village joined with environmental, health, faith, and labor groups to form the Clean Power Coalition, launching a groundbreaking grassroots campaign to make Chicago a coal-free city. In the last year, thirty-five aldermen and Mayor Rahm Emanuel took on the cause.
“For over ten years our communities have been fighting for the right to breathe clean air, clean land and clean water. Today we are ending over 100 years of pollution for profits and showing the power of community,” said Kimberly Wasserman of LVEJO. “Hopefully, this is the first of many victories in Illinois, as citizens and politicians come together to hold corporate polluters accountable and usher in a clean energy future.”

The agreement also called for the creation of a community advisory council to address issues such as the toxicity and future use of the sites.

“Fisk and Crawford have been polluting Chicago neighborhoods for over 100 years,” said Jerry Mead-Lucero of PERRO. “Our work is not over when the plants close. Midwest Generation and the City of Chicago must continue working to ensure these sites are properly cleaned up and returned to safe, productive use for our communities.”

The retirement of Fisk and Crawford will deliver substantial public health benefits. Researchers from the Clean Air Task Force found that pollution from Fisk and Crawford causes 42 premature deaths, 66 heart attacks and 720 asthma attacks each year. One in four Chicagoans lives within a three-mile radius of the smokestacks.

The Chicago Clean Power Coalition is a growing group of organizations fighting for clean air, including: Chicago Youth Climate Coalition, Eco-Justice Collaborative. Environmental Law and Policy Center, Environment Illinois, Greenpeace, Faith in Place, Illinois Student Environmental Coalition, Little Village Environmental Justice Organization, Nuclear Energy Information Service, Pilsen Alliance, Pilsen Environmental Rights and Reform Organization, Protestants for the Common Good, Rainforest Action Network Chicago, Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago, Doctor’s Council SEIU, Sierra Club, and the Southeast Environmental Task Force.

In response to today’s news, members of the Chicago Clean Power Coalition said:
"Those of us who serve patients from the communities most affected by the emissions from these coal plants are thrilled that, soon, these threats to the health of the public will no longer exist. Future generations of our fellow Chicagoans will live with cleaner air and less damage to their respiratory health. Not only will this save money from fewer medical visits to doctor's offices and emergency rooms, but this agreement will save lives. The physicians at Doctors Council SEIU thanks the Coalition, the Community, Alderman Solis and Midwest Generation for working together to put the health of the communities first in agreeing to close Fisk and Crawford for good."
Ravi Grivois-Shah, MD MPH, Doctor’s Council SEIU

“This is a major victory for the people of Chicago! With the closure of the Fisk & Crawford coal plants, our city takes a bold step away from dirty energy and the harm it brings to human health, while at the same time opening the way for a clean energy future. We look forward to working with community groups and the City to ensure that these sites are cleaned up and restored for safe, productive uses."
Pam Richart, Eco Justice Collaborative

“Chicago families have spoken: We have the right to breathe clean air, and we aren’t willing to tolerate old, dirty coal plants in Chicago neighborhoods that harm our health and foul our air,” says Faith Bugel, Senior Attorney with the Environmental Law & Policy Center (ELPC). “This victory means cleaner air, cleaner water, cleaner energy, and a safer environment for us all.”

“This is a victory for the people of Chicago, who have demonstrated that grassroots activism is more powerful than the special interests of corporate polluters. We hope other communities across the country will find new inspiration to stand up for their right to clean air and a safe climate. “
Kelly Mitchell, Greenpeace Coal Campaigner

"Today's announcement means that the residents of Chicago will breathe cleaner air and live healthier lives for generations to come. This is a victory not only for those who have worked so hard over the past decade, but also for the youth who will grow up in a better environment." Laura Knezevic, ISEC

“Today is a great victory for the hundreds of thousands of people in the Chicago area living with lung disease and their families,” said Brian Urbaszewski, Director of Environmental Health at Respiratory Health Association of Metropolitan Chicago. “Pollution from the Chicago coal power plants has harmed too many people for far too long. Eliminating soot and smog from the plants will allow all Chicagoans to breathe easier.”

"Chicagoans can breathe easier thanks to Mayor Emanuel's leadership in closing these old, polluting coal plants, " said Jack Darin, Director of the Sierra Club, Illinois Chapter. "Mayor Emanuel knows that moving Chicago from coal to clean energy works for all of us, and we applaud him for his efforts to bring cleaner air to Pilsen, Little Village, and all of Chicago.

Lessons from Fukushima nuclear disaster shows millions remain at risk

Joe Smyth — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 14:26:00 +0100

Tokyo/Washington DC - Greenpeace today released “Lessons from Fukushima”, a new report which shows that it was not a natural disaster which led to the nuclear disaster at the Fukushima Daiichi plant on Japan’s east coast but the failures of the Japanese Government, regulators and the nuclear industry. The key conclusion to be drawn from the report is that this human-made nuclear disaster could be repeated at any nuclear plant in the world, putting millions at risk.

“While triggered by the tragic March 11th earthquake and tsunami, the Fukushima disaster was ultimately caused by the Japanese authorities choosing to ignore risks, and make business a higher priority than safety,” said Jim Riccio, Greenpeace USA nuclear policy analyst. “This report shows that nuclear energy is inherently unsafe, and that governments are quick to approve reactors, but remain ill-equipped to deal with problems and protect people from nuclear disasters. This has not changed since the Fukushima disaster, and that is why millions of people continue to be exposed to nuclear risks.”

Greenpeace commissioned Dr. David Boilley, a nuclear physicist with the French independent radiation laboratory ACRO; Dr. David McNeill, Japan correspondent for The Chronicle of Higher Education and other publications; and Arnie Gundersen, a former nuclear executive and chief engineer of Fairewinds Associates, to write “Lessons from Fukushima” (1). The report, peer reviewed by Dr. Helmut Hirsch, an expert in nuclear safety, reaches three important insights:

1) Japanese authorities and the operators of the Fukushima plant were entirely wrong in their assumptions about the risks of a serious accident. The real risks were known but downplayed and ignored.

2) Even though Japan is considered one of the best-prepared countries in the world for handling major disasters the reality of a large nuclear disaster proved to be far worse than what was planned for. Nuclear emergency and evacuation plans utterly failed to protect people.

3) Hundreds of thousands of people have been deeply affected by evacuations to escape radioactive contamination. They cannot rebuild their lives due to a lack of support and financial compensation. Japan is one of only three countries with a law making a nuclear operator liable for the full costs of a disaster. Yet, the liability law and compensation schemes are inadequate in Japan. Even a year after the disaster began, impacted people are essentially left on their own and Japanese taxpayers will end up paying much of the costs.

“Fukushima Daiichi was not just a nuclear accident; rather, for decades it was a nuclear accident waiting to happen. Flaws in the GE Mark 1 containment design were well known for four decades, and the likelihood of seismic and tsunami events far worse than the Fukushima Units were designed to withstand were well understood for more than 20 years,“ said Arnie Gunderson of Fairewinds Associates, a co-author of the report. “Against this prophetic backdrop, Tokyo Electric, Japanese regulators, and international nuclear organizations turned a blind eye toward these obvious warnings and continued to operate the reactors. Fukushima Daiichi is not unique, and these same nuclear regulatory institutions oversee other reactors in Japan and worldwide. Truly independent worldwide nuclear reactor regulatory institutions do not exist, setting the stage for similar accidents somewhere else in the world.”

Greenpeace is urging the Japanese Government to not restart its nuclear power plants in favor of a strong push to energy efficiency and renewable power, and calling for a global phase out of nuclear power by 2035 (2).

ENDS

Contact: Joe Smyth, Greenpeace media, 831-566-5647, joe.smyth@greenpeace.org

Notes:
1) Link to the Executive Summary and the Lessons from Fukushima report: http://www.greenpeace.org/fukushima-lessons

2) The Greenpeace Energy Revolution scenario for Japan shows how a phase out of nuclear power generation in 2012 is possible while still reducing greenhouse gas emissions by 25% by 2020.
Japan: http://www.energyblueprint.info/1342.0.html
World: http://www.energyblueprint.info
United States: http://www.energyblueprint.info/1239.0.html

Transboundary agreement spells disaster for the Gulf

kmacduff — Wed, 22 Feb 2012 17:58:00 +0100

In response to the United States and Mexico signing an agreement to develop oil and gas reservoirs that cross the international maritime boundary between the two countries in the Gulf of Mexico Greenpeace United States and Mexico have signed their own transboundary agreement.

Greenpeace US and Mexico signed the agreement concerning their governments continued obsession with helping the gas and oil industry profit off polluting the climate and devastating the Gulf of Mexico. “The US and Mexican governments say their agreement is “designed to enhance energy security in North America,” an impossibility given the continued support for fossil fuel production over secure, renewable energy sources. President Obama's failure to permanently reject the Keystone XL pipeline, his expanding coal mining on public lands, and approval of oil exploration in the Arctic lay the groundwork for this new policy,” said Greenpeace US Climate Campaigner Kyle Ash.

“This agreement opens new areas to dangerous, expensive, and controversial offshore drilling techniques. This is what led to the deaths of eleven workers and over 200 million gallons of oil spewing into the Gulf just two years ago,’ said Mr Ash. “The US-Mexican joint statement called for “the highest degree of safety and environmental standards,” which the US Congress has failed to improve since the Deepwater disaster. A recent report from the National Research Council reaffirmed that deepwater drilling remains unsafe.”

Drilling could take place in the Gulf at depths typically greater than 8,500 feet, deeper than at any drilling site in the world. The BP Deepwater Horizon catastrophe occurred in water 5,000 feet deep

“Deepwater exploration is a huge risk to the environment and a waste of resources for the country. Each oil spill at sea disrupts the ecosystem, causing ecological disturbances, some temporary, others permanent. State-owned oil company Pemex has a history of oil spills off the coast of Tamaulipas, Veracruz, Tabasco and Campeche and now with plans for deepwater exploration in the Gulf of Mexico, the potential for disaster increases exponentially,” said Greenpeace Mexico Climate Campaigner Beatriz Olivera.

“To bet on difficult and expensive oil extraction is a waste of public resources for Mexico’s goverment. The border area is classified as a high risk area for deep levels. Drilling a single well in the border region means additional indebtedness of over $ 150 million (1) for Pemex” said Ms Olivera.

“This joint declaration by the governments of President Obama and President Calderon is part of an historic trend of North American governments doing the bidding of the oil industry. Greenpeace Mexico and Greenpeace United States will do everything they can to change their governments' policies that destroy the climate and keep North America energy insecure,” said Mr Ash.

Note: (1) BARBOSA, Fabio. Agotamiento de los campos petroleros gigantes y nuevo potencial de hidrocarburos en México. Page. 38.

Greenpeace activists erect banner in front of Duke Headquarters

nsands — Wed, 15 Feb 2012 13:34:00 +0100

CHARLOTTE, NC— This morning, six North Carolinians built and ascended two 20-ft tall tripods in front of Duke Energy’s headquarters with a banner between them that read “Duke Energy: no dirty rate hikes” wearing t-shirts that said, “Be a good neighbor.”

“Duke Energy has gone too far with Charlotte ratepayers,” said Charlotte Organizer Monica Embrey, who was sitting at the base of the structure. “We won’t pay higher rates for more dirty energy. We’re asking for fair rates, renewable energy, and green jobs for North Carolina.”

All of the activists were from North Carolina and the protest took place outside the headquarters as Duke employees were arriving for work. North Carolinians are objecting to a recent 7.2% rate hike that will show up on their energy bills this March. The higher rates will go towards maintaining Duke’s dirty energy fleet rather than investing in clean renewable energy. Duke Energy has announced they’ll be pursuing another rate hike this year.

The protest follows yesterday’s announcement from Greenpeace Executive Director Phil Radford that the organization has opened a campaign against Duke Energy, and a dramatic protest on top of the 400-foot stack of Progress Energy’s Asheville coal plant earlier this week. Progress Energy and Duke Energy are in the process of a merger that will make them the largest utility in the United States. Earlier this month, Greenpeace flew an airship over Cincinnati with the message “Dump Duke.” In Cincinnati, residents are deciding whether to keep buying energy from Duke, or explore cleaner alternatives.

“In Charlotte, we know that Duke Energy has the potential to make significant investments in renewable energy and efficiency, and that effort should start here at home in North Carolina. It’s just part of being a good neighbor,” said Greenpeace spokesperson and Charlotte resident Beth Henry.

Duke Energy owns and operates coal plants throughout North Carolina, including several near Charlotte. At the nearby Riverbend coal plant, two of the plant’s coal ash impoundments have been rated as high hazards by the EPA, meaning that a dam failure would most likely cause loss of human life. The plant is located on Mountain Island Lake, the source of Charlotte’s drinking water.

Charlotte residents are going to continue to send this message to Duke Energy this coming Saturday, February 18th as part of a day of action against dirty rate hikes. They are gathering at 1pm at Duke Energy’s headquarters.

Greenpeace is asking Duke to meet the following demands:

1) Not renew a single new contract for mountaintop removal coal.
2) Deliver at least a third of Duke’s energy from renewable sources by 2020.
3) Quit coal altogether by 2030.

Photos will be available at:
Flickr.com/photos/greenpeaceusa09

Follow the action on Twitter at Twitter.com/greenpeaceusa

Visit http://www.quitcoal.org for more information

Contact: Molly Dorozenski, mdorozen@greenpeace.org, 917-864-3724

Greenpeace announces campaign to make Duke Energy the clean energy company the US deserves

Joe Smyth — Tue, 14 Feb 2012 19:59:00 +0100

Washington DC - February 14, 2012 - Greenpeace USA Executive Director Phil Radford announced today a campaign to make Duke Energy the clean energy company that North Carolina and the United States deserve. The announcement follows a protest and demonstration yesterday in which 16 Greenpeace activists were arrested at a Progress Energy coal plant in Asheville, North Carolina after unfurling a huge banner atop a smoke stack that read "Duke Energy: the climate needs real Progress." Duke Energy and Progress Energy are seeking a merger which would create the largest utility company in the United States.

From Phil Radford's announcement: (The full announcement is at http://greenpeaceblogs.com/2012/02/14/2012-is-make-or-break-the-planet-for-dirty-duke-energy)

"Today, I'm officially announcing our campaign to make Duke Energy the clean energy company that North Carolina and the United States deserve.

"We must shine a light on Duke's activities in 2012 because this is a make or break year for the climate, and Duke is at the center of it. The merger alone is enough to warrant an extra level of scrutiny--and has in fact been delayed this far by FERC (The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission) because of concerns about the company holding an energy monopoly in North Carolina. North Carolina ratepayers don't have a choice about where they get their energy. Despite a committed local movement opposing the most recent rate hike, they're seeing a 7.2% increase on their electricity bills in March, not to pay for an investment in renewable energy, but to invest more in new coal projects like the Cliffside plant. Enough is enough--Duke ratepayers have said loudly and clearly that they don't want to pay for more investments in dirty energy.

"And Duke Energy also holds a unique position in energy politics right now. It is currently the third largest emitter of CO2 in the US--and that's before it takes on Progress Energy's dirty fleet. CEO Jim Rogers has spoken openly about the threat of climate change and pollution controls for coal plants, and yet Duke holds a membership in the industry group ERCC (Electric Reliability Coordinating Council), a group that was aggressively lobbying against the recently passed Mercury Rule. It's no secret that Duke's money and influence--$6.5 million in lobbying dollars in 2010-- could have a significant impact in US energy policy. To top it all off, this year, Rogers has been the lead fundraiser for the Democratic National Convention, to be held in Charlotte where Duke Energy is based, lending the Democrats $10 million dollars to pay for the convention.

"On 60 Minutes in 2009, Jim Rogers said, "I remember the first time I took a helicopter to look down at a power plant like this, I was 41 years old, and I said, 'Oh my goodness, I'm responsible for that?'" He is. As long as Rogers guides the decisions of Duke Energy, he's responsible for coal plants just this one, the dozens of polluting plants around the country that compromise our children's health and the health of our climate, and the mountains that are blown up to mine the coal he burns in these plants. He's responsible for the 15,714 asthma attacks, 1,447 heart attack, and 951 premature deaths Duke's coal plants cause every year. And Duke is soon to be responsible for Progress's fleet and the pollution that comes with it.
...
"We're asking Duke Energy to:
Not renew a single new contract for mountaintop removal coal
Deliver at least a third of Duke's energy from renewable sources by 2020.
Quit coal altogether by 2030.

Our communities and our climate can't wait any longer for real action on the climate."

###

Contact: Joe Smyth, Greenpeace media in Washington DC, 831-566-5647, joe.smyth@greenpeace.org
Molly Dorozenski, Greenpeace Media Director (currently in North Carolina) at 917-864-3724

Press Release from Monday's coal plant protest http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/duke-banner-asheville/
Photos http://www.flickr.com/photos/greenpeaceusa09/sets/72157629244871679/

All 16 activists arrested after unfurling giant banner reading "Duke Energy: The climate needs real Progress"

nsands — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 20:06:00 +0100

UPDATE: All 16 activists arrested after unfurling giant banner reading "Duke Energy: The climate needs real Progress."

ASHEVILLE, NC—Activists at a North Carolina power plant have unfurled a banner 400 feet above the ground on a smoke stack reading “Duke Energy: The climate needs real Progress.” The Greenpeace activists have been protesting at the Asheville Power Station since this morning in order to bring attention to the disastrous impact of coal across the country, from its extraction and burning to its waste.

The Progress Energy coal fired power plant uses mountain top removal coal, the most destructive form of mining, which is decimating the landscape of Appalachia. The plant spews out almost two thousand pounds sulfur dioxide, close to eight hundred pounds of nitrogen oxides, and more than two and a half million tons of carbon dioxide each year.

The plant’s toxic coal ash ponds are designated as ‘high hazard’ by the EPA, meaning they would be likely to kill people should they spill, and recent testing shows elevated levels of heavy metals in groundwater near the ponds.

“It’s past time to send a message to Duke and Progress that they can’t continue to pollute the air, poison the water, destroy mountains and cause climate change just to make a profit,” said Climate Campaigner and Activist Robert Gardner.

Progress Energy is in the process of a merger with Carolina based Duke Energy. The merger would make Duke the biggest utility in the country.

“Duke Energy has an amazing opportunity to create real change in the way America creates its energy by switching to a clean energy future. Instead it is adding more than five billion dollars worth of dirty coal plants to its fleet,” Mr Gardner said.

Earlier in the day, activists secured themselves to the coal loader and conveyor belt, and displayed banners at the coal ash pond. Eleven activists were arrested.

“Duke Energy needs to spend less time and money lobbying government and more time actually walking the walk of sustainability,” Mr. Gardner said. “We want to see Duke end new contracts for mountaintop removal coal, deliver at least a third of its energy from renewable sources by 2020, and quit coal altogether by 2030.”

Follow the action live at quitcoal.org

For more information, interviews with activists in the power plant and photos and video, please contact:

Keiller MacDuff: 202-679-2236 (on site)

Myriam Fallon: 708-546-9001 (on site)

Joe Smyth: joe.smyth@greenpeace.org, 831-566-5647 (office)

Still images: http://www.flickr.com/photos/greenpeaceusa09

Hi res video: http://comms.greenpeaceusa.org/20120213_Asheville_Coal_Action

Activists Take a Stand at Asheville Power Station

nsands — Mon, 13 Feb 2012 13:10:00 +0100

ASHEVILLE,NC—Greenpeace activists are protesting the destruction and pollution caused by coal at the Progress Asheville Power Station this morning. Activists have secured themselves to the coal loader and conveyers, which will prevent coal from entering the facility. They are scaling the 400 foot smoke stack to send a message to both Progress Energy and Duke Energy that communities and the climate can’t wait for a renewable energy revolution. Coal plants like the Asheville Power Station damage communities and the climate at every stage of their lifecycle: the destructive mining practices, the burning, and the storage of toxic coal ash.

Progress Energy is currently in a merger bid with Charlotte based Duke Energy, which would create the largest utility in the United States.

“This plant runs on destroyed mountains, it spews out air pollution, it causes climate change and it poisons the water and the earth. If Duke merges with Progress, the new owners have a responsibility to the people of North Carolina to move to clean energy,” said Greenpeace climate campaigner and activist Robert Gardner.

The Progress Energy owned Asheville Power Station uses the most destructive form of coal mining, mountain top removal, which is flattening mountains across Appalachia. The plant produces 1,994 pounds of sulfur dioxide, 788 pounds of nitrogen oxides, and 2,629,243 tons of carbon dioxide. Its coal ash ponds are designated ‘high hazard’ by the EPA, meaning they are likely to kill people if they spill. Like other coal plants across the country, the plant causes death and illness in the community.

“Duke Energy could be playing a leadership role in the energy sector, and CEO Jim Rogers talks a good game on the environment, but the reality is vastly different. With more than $5 billion dollars worth of new coal investment on the books, Duke is clearly committed to dirty fossil fuels that poison our communities and destroy the climate,” Mr Gardner said. “If Duke Energy wants to be considered a leader in the industry, they’re going to have to get serious about phasing out polluting plants like this one, and make some real investments in renewable energy that will protect America’s future.”

For more information, photos and video, and interviews with activists at the coal plant: Keiller MacDuff: 202-679-2236 (on site)
Myriam Fallon: 202-309-7244 (on site)
Joe Smyth: joe.smyth@greenpeace.org, 831-566-5647 (office)

Still images will be available shortly here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/greenpeaceusa09/sets/72157629244871679/

Hi res video will be downloadable from here:
http://comms.greenpeaceusa.org/20120213_Asheville_Coal_Action

Greenpeace Airship Flies Over Cincinnati: "Dump Duke Energy, Cleaner is Cheaper"

Joe Smyth — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 23:20:00 +0100

Cincinnati - February 1, 2012 - Greenpeace today flew an airship with banners reading “Dump Duke Energy” and "Cleaner is Cheaper" over Cincinnati to highlight the opportunity to switch to a cheaper, renewable energy provider. The Cincinnati City Council is currently considering what criteria to use when choosing a new energy provider, now that the city can pool its purchasing power. Greenpeace is urging the city to require 100% renewable energy from any energy providers seeking a contract to supply electricity to Cincinnati.

"We can have lower electric bills and cleaner air by choosing a cheaper, renewable energy provider. It's time to dump Duke Energy and its polluting old coal plants," said Greenpeace Cincinnati Organizer Kate Melges.

Last November, Cincinnati residents overwhelmingly voted to pass a ballot initiative allowing the city to pool its purchasing power and choose a new energy provider. Now the Cincinnati City Council is considering what criteria to use when choosing a new energy provider, such as cost savings and renewable energy. At a City Council hearing last Monday, January 30th, nearly every resident who testified urged the City Council to require any energy provider seeking to provide the city with power to use 100% renewable energy. Residents have another opportunity to share their views with the City Council at the next public hearing on February 6th.

"Duke Energy says it wants to be a responsible, forward-looking company, but it continues to rely on dirty old coal plants. If it wants to be Cincinnati's energy provider, Duke Energy ought to be switching to renewable energy," said Greenpeace coal campaigner Robert Gardner, "Until then, Cincinnati should choose a new energy provider and the cleaner air, good jobs, and lower electric bills it would bring to Ohio."

Duke Energy owns and operates two coal fired power plants on either side of Cincinnati. Pollution from the Miami Fort and Beckjord coal plants is responsible for 200 deaths, 313 heart attacks, over 3,200 asthma attacks, and hundreds of hospital admissions and emergency room visits each year.

###

Contact: Kate Melges, Greenpeace Cincinnati organizer, 727-403-9575
Joe Smyth, Greenpeace media, 831-566-5647, joe.smyth@greenpeace.org

Notes
Photos available at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/greenpeaceusa09/sets/72157629027103915/

Greenpeace’s 135-foot long thermal airship, named the “A.E. Bates” in honor of a dedicated volunteer, is the only aircraft of its kind in the United States. More information is available at: http://www.greenpeace.org/usa/en/campaigns/ships/the-greenpeace-balloon/

Information about Cincinnati City Council public hearings on January 30th at 6pm and February 6 at 1pm: http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/noncms/council/uploads/bf1.pdf

Data on the health impacts of coal plants in Ohio is from the Clean Air Task Force: http://www.catf.us/coal/problems/power_plants/existing/map.php?state=Ohio

Chemical Disasters Put NYC Region at Risk Despite Safer Options

Joe Smyth — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 17:21:00 +0100

NEW YORK, NY – In an effort to pressure chemical facilities to use disaster-proof alternatives, Greenpeace highighted the highest risk chemical plants that put the New York metropolitan area at risk. According to chemical facility reports to the EPA, more than 12 million people in the region live in “vulnerability zones” that extend up to 14 miles downwind from plants in New Jersey. These hazards took on new urgency following the September 11th attacks and yet the federal government has done nothing to require these plants to use safer available alternatives.

Today Greenpeace launched a new Google mapping tool that allows communities to see for the first time if they live in the “vulnerability zone” of one of 483 high risk chemical plants. The interactive maps show the distance a poison gas cloud could travel as well as examples of safer alternatives. The URL for the mapping site is at: http://usactions.greenpeace.org/chemicals/map/

Each of these plants put 100,000 or more people at risk of a poison gas disaster either by accident or terrorist attack. Together all of these plants put more than 110 million Americans at risk. When he was in the Senate, President Obama called these facilities “stationary weapons of mass destruction spread all across the country.”

“For more than a decade chemical companies have reported to the EPA how many people they put in danger of a poison gas disaster. Now Greenpeace is making sure that the public can find out if they are one of the millions in the danger zone of a poison gas facility,” said Greenpeace Policy Analyst John Deans.

The highest risk facility in the U.S. is the Kuehne Chemical plant in South Kearny, New Jersey. Kuehne puts 12 million people in New Jersey and New York at risk of a chlorine gas disaster, and yet the Clorox Company, which is in the same business as Kuehne, announced in 2009 that they are converting all of their U.S. facilities. Kuehne, however, has dragged its feet for more than a decade since 9/11 and has even asked for $50 million in government handouts. In 2010 Kuehne finally announced plans to convert but they have yet to give the surrounding communities a timeline. In 2003 Greenpeace urged to Kuehne to convert and again in 2010 when Greenpeace conducted a citizen’s inspection of their plant and sent the results to the Department of Homeland Security.

While hundreds of plants have converted since 9/11, proving that safer alternatives are feasible and cost effective, the large majority of highest risk plants have done little. When he was in the Senate, President Obama said, “Each one of these methods reduces the danger that chemical plants pose to our communities and makes them less appealing targets for terrorists."

In 2009 the House of Representatives adopted a bill that would have required the conversion of high risk plants to safer alternatives were ever feasible. The Obama administration’s Department of Homeland Security and EPA have repeatedly asked Congress to require the highest risk plants to use safer alternatives. In response, Republicans in Congress and the chemical lobby have shamelessly blocked that legislation. “It’s time for our government to ensure that safer chemical processes are the norm, not the exception, at all high risks chemical plants,” said Greenpeace Legislative Director Rick Hind.

Given the failure of Congress to act, a coalition of more than 100 labor, public health, environmental justice and public interest groups have called on President Obama to implement never-used authority in the Clean Air Act to eliminate these hazards. On October 26, 2011 an EPA advisory committee on environmental justice voted to recommend that the EPA use their authority under the Clean Air Act to eliminate these hazards. In their letters, the groups cited a 2002 EPA proposal to use this authority. The EPA proposal even included plans to announce it at the White House but it was ultimately scuttled by President Bush following meetings with the chemical lobby. “President Obama should now revisit the 2002 EPA proposal and begin the elimination of these needless risks that continue to endanger millions of Americans,” said Deans.

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Contact: John Deans, Greenpeace Toxics Campaigner, 207-319-6850

Center for American Progress published a survey that identified 284 facilities that switched to safer and more secure technologies while frequently saving money. http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2006/04/b681085_ct2556757.html

Coalition letter to President Obama on using the Clean Air Act to prevent chemical disasters: http://research.greenpeaceusa.org/index.php?a=view&d=6002

Environmental Justice letter to EPA about federal advisory committee recommendation to use the Clean Air Act to prevent chemical disasters: http://research.greenpeaceusa.org/index.php?a=view&d=6007

Hundreds visit new Greenpeace flagship on first weekend in New York City

nsands — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 15:49:00 +0100

Hundreds of New Yorkers visited Greenpeace’s new flagship - The Rainbow Warrior - over the course of a busy first weekend in the US.

The ship’s arrival last week was featured in New York Magazine and The New York Times.

Two days of ‘open boat’ events saw lines on Chelsea Piers as groups waited to be shown around the custom built vessel, which arrived on Friday.

The new Greenpeace Rainbow Warrior flagship has arrived in New York city, ahead of an East Coast tour that will take in Baltimore, Southport, Fort Lauderdale and St. Petersburg. The ship will then travel to Brazil ahead of the Rio Earth Summit in June.

On Tuesday January 31 at 11am the ship will host an event for journalists entitled “The Chemical Disaster Threat to New York Metro Area”.

Greenpeace and coalition partners will highlight the chemical disaster threat to the New York City / New Jersey area posed by the Kuehne chemical facility in South Kearny, NJ, and the decade long effort to protect New Yorkers by requiring safer alternatives.

A new online tool will be previewed that for the first time will empower Americans to find out if their homes or workplaces are within a chemical disaster threat zone. Greenpeace Legislative Director Rick Hind and representatives from Physicians for Social Responsibility, NYPIRG, and WEACT, will discuss Congress' failure to adopt disaster prevention legislation.

The Captain of the new ship - Peter Wilcox - also skippered the original Rainbow Warrior when it was bombed by the French Navy in 1985.

Journalists and photographers are able to tour the ship and interview the Captain by appointment only.

The ship is currently docked at 59 Chelsea Piers, 17th Street and the Hudson River, New York 10011.

The ship is the first to be custom built for the environmental group, and features 13,500 square feet of sail on a giant 180ft “A Frame”.

For more information contact James Turner on 415 812 1142.