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Posted by: 1-2-Oscar 1 year, 7 months ago
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1-2-Oscar1 year, 7 months ago
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There may not be any coal mines in the state today, but Washington has produced considerable coal in the past. In fact, deep mining was carried out there until 1975, and the last open pit closed just two years ago--so the state definitely HAS contributed to its own pollution. The town of Roslyn, a tourist attraction where the TV series "Northern Exposure" was taped, even advertises a "Coal Mines Trail" for bikers.
Washington is one of several states which have passed laws restricting construction of NEW power plants in accordance with tight emission standards that almost entirely eliminate new coal-fired electrical generation. An Energy Northwest application for a plant in Cowlitz County was recently rejected, but United Power of Gig Harbor is still pushing an application for a proposed plant in Walla Walla County. But several older coal-fired plants continue to operate in the state.
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Aidenag1 year, 7 months ago
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Almost all coal use stopped in the 1940's when the Grand Coulee damn was built. Which is the largest electricity producer in the entire country(just shy of 7,000MW). And costs a lot less per KW than coal ever will, which is why coal lost its edge here so quickly.
Though it does look like you are right, we do have a single coal power plant in Centralia owned by Transalta. It is the only one though according to the DOE. And even then, it's not very large of a polluter. In fact, its not even a full blown coal power plant. It has two coal-fired units, four natural gas and one steam combined-cycle unit and one hydro unit. And is certified as the cleanest Coal plant in all of north america(according to transalta at least)
Either way, the massive downward trend in coal use, shows that the massive upward trend in mercury pollution is for the most part, coming from foreign sources.
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