Green Penalty Box - Nevada Power's Reid Gardner coal-fired power plant

And on the flip side of our Green Hero award is our Green Penalty Box delegate. We only put people and organizations into our Green Penalty Box who deserve it - they have been cited by the EPA for environmental violations or have been caught by others doing things that negatively impact the health and environment of others.

The first company we're throwing into the box is Nevada Power for their Reid Gardner coal-fired power plant. According to the Environment News Service, this plant has a higher emission rate of the greenhouse gas carbon dioxide than any other power plant in the United States, citing a new ranking issued today by the Environmental Integrity Project.

The Environmental Integrity Project is a nonprofit group created by former U.S. EPA enforcement attorneys. Their report ranks the 378 largest power plants in the country based on company-reported data.

ENS notes the 12 states with the heaviest concentrations of the dirtiest power plants, in terms of total tons of carbon dioxide emitted, are - Texas, which has five, including two of the top 10 dirtiest plants; Pennsylvania with four; Indiana with four, including two of the top 10 dirtiest plants; Alabama with three; Georgia with three, including two of the top three dirtiest plants; North Carolina, Ohio and West Virginia have three apiece; while Wyoming, Florida, Kentucky and New Mexico each have two.

I found this section of the article to be particularly telling (and disturbing):

Environmental Integrity Project attorney Ilan Levin said, “While Congress is poised to seriously consider legislation to limit the greenhouse gases that made 2006 the hottest year on record, the electric power industry is racing to build a new fleet of coal-fired power plants that rely on conventional combustion technologies that would only accelerate global warming."

Once utility companies secure their air pollution permits, Levin expects them to argue that these new plants should be grandfathered, or exempt from any pending limits on greenhouse gases.

Levin says today's rush to coal reminds him of the 1970s.

"When the original Clean Air Act was passed in 1970," he said, "the electric utility industry persuaded Congress to not impose strict pollution controls on old power plants, because they would soon be replaced by newer state-of-the-art facilities. Yet despite the industry's promises, many of the nation's oldest and dirtiest power plants continue to operate today."

The full article can be found here.

Green Hero of the Day - George Folsom

Congratulations to the first official "Green Hero" of the day for the new GreenforGood.com - George Folsom of Fresno, California.

This is a new feature that we are incorporating into the Green Dirt blog and soon, into the new GreenforGood.com site.

Mr. Folsom was selected for our Green Hero title today because he was awarded the President's Volunteer Service Award for the work he does as a leader of two Fresno area non-profit organizations – the San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust.

According to a press release issued by the EPA, "Folsom actively recruits volunteers and helps with fundraising events. Folsom’s passion and knowledge as a dedicated volunteer has led him to help preserve and protect thepublic’s enjoyment of the San Joaquin River.

EPA Administrator Steven L Johnson noted, “Dedicated volunteers like Mr. Folsom are inspiring others to join them in delivering America a brighter, healthier future."

The full copy of the release is posted below.

Three cheers for Mr. Folsom - America (and the world) need more Green Heroes like you!

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EPA ADMINISTRATOR  RECOGNIZES FRESNO CITIZEN WITH PRESIDENT’S
VOLUNTEER SERVICE AWARD


For Immediate Release:  August 8, 2007
Contact:  Margot Perez-Sullivan, 415-760-9161,
perezsullivan.margot@epa.gov

SAN FRANCISCO - Yesterday, EPA Administrator Stephen L. Johnson honored
George Folsom with the President’s Volunteer Service Award following an
address to the San Joaquin Valley Air Quality Roundtable in Fresno, CA.

As a leader of two Fresno area non-profit organizations – the San
Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation Trust, and the Revive the San
Joaquin, a grassroots organization, Folsom actively recruits volunteers
and helps with fundraising events.  Folsom’s passion and knowledge as a
dedicated volunteer has led him to help preserve and protect the
public’s enjoyment of the San Joaquin River.

“Today we honor George Folsom for answering President Bush's call to
serve a cause greater than himself,” said EPA Administrator Stephen L.
Johnson.  “Dedicated volunteers like Mr. Folsom are inspiring others to
join them in delivering America a brighter, healthier future."

During his travels across the country, Administrator Johnson meets with
individuals like Folsom who are answering the call to volunteer service,
environmental education and pollution prevention.

Folsom has helped to protect the San Joaquin River basin which is 38,000
square miles in size, originating in the high Serra Mountains and
flowing through the San Joaquin Valley out to the San Francisco Bay.
Since 1996 George has served as a member of the board and on the
Executive Committee of the San Joaquin River Parkway and Conservation
Trust, a 22 mile linear greenway of conservation lands with river
access.

He chaired the restoration committee for Hallowell Center for River
Studies
located on the San Joaquin River.  This interpretive center is an 1890
ranch which was restored thanks to George Folsom’s volunteer efforts and
chairmanship of the Restoration Committee.   More than 16,000 people a
year visit the Center.  He also chairs the River Center Committee for
outdoor programs which bring people to the river for education programs.
George is also Board President and a founding member of Revive the San
Joaquin, a non-profit focused on restoring water flows and salmon to the
San Joaquin River

In his January 2002 State of the Union Address, President Bush called on
all Americans to make a difference in their communities through
volunteer service. He created USA Freedom Corps, an Office of the White
House, to strengthen and expand volunteer service. Americans are
responding to the President’s Call to Service. Go to www.volunteer.gov
or call 1-877-USA-CORPS to find an existing volunteer service
opportunity in your area or to find more information about service
programs, including national service programs such as the Peace Corps,
AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and Citizen Corps. USA Freedom Corps is also
highlighting youth volunteer service. Visit www.volunteerkids.gov for
games and ideas to see how America's youth are making a difference.

The President's Volunteer Service Award was created at the President’s
direction by the President's Council on Service and Civic Participation.
The Award is available to youth ages 14 and under who have completed 50
or more hours of volunteer service; to individuals 15 and older who have
completed 100 or more hours; and to families or groups who have
completed 200 or more hours. For more information about the Award,
please visit www.presidentialserviceawards.gov.

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